DISSOCIATIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY AND AGGRESSIVE-BEHAVIOR

The present study examined the relationship between dissociative sympt omatology and a range of aggressive behavior in a general psychiatric outpatient population. Of the total sample (n = 122), 29% scored above 25 on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Patients with high DE S scores (>25) were significantly more likely than patients with lower DES scores (<25) to report a history of childhood sexual abuse, to ha ve attempted suicide, and to report more assaultive behavior, irritabi lity, and negativism. There were no differences between the patients w ith high versus low DES scores on homicidal behavior. To better manage and treat outpatients with dissociative symptomatology, it is importa nt to clarify the association between outwardly aggressive behavior an d dissociative experiences. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Compan y.