BRIQUETS SYNDROME, DISSOCIATION, AND ABUSE

Objective. To help clarify the complex association between childhood a buse and adult psychopathology, the authors examined the relationship among abuse, Briquet's syndrome (somatization disorder), and dissociat ive symptoms. Method: Ninety-nine female psychiatric clinic outpatient s with a history of somatic complaints were assessed for Briquet's syn drome, dissociative symptoms, adult and childhood sexual abuse, childh ood physical abuse, and childhood emotional abuse. Results. Women with high dissociation scores and many somatic symptoms were more likely t o report abuse than were subjects with low dissociation scores or with few somatic complaints. Conclusions: Briquet's syndrome, dissociation , and abuse are significantly associated. Awareness of this associatio n may have a significant effect on the treatment of psychiatric patien ts.