Degree of somatoform and psychological dissociation in dissociative disorder is correlated with reported trauma

In this study, the prevalence and severity of traumatic experiences as repo rted by patients with dissociative disorders and with other DSM-IV psychiat ric diagnoses were compared. Furthermore, the predictive value of emotional ; physical, and sexual trauma with respect to somatoform and psychological dissociation was analyzed. In contrast with comparison patients, dissociati ve disorder patients reported severe and multifaceted traumatization. Physi cal and sexual trauma predicted somatoform dissociation, sexual trauma pred icted psychological dissociation as well. According to the memories of the dissociative disorder patients, this abuse occurred in an emotionally negle ctful and abusive social context. Pathological dissociation was best predic ted by early onset of reported intense, chronic and multiple traumatization . Methodological limitations restricting causal inferences between reported trauma and dissociation are discussed.