This study describes the relation of different types of childhood trauma to
the degree of dissociative experiences. Subjects were 198 consecutively ad
mitted adolescent psychiatric patients, 11 to 19 years old (89 inpatients a
nd 109 outpatients). All patients completed the Adolescent Dissociative Exp
eriences Scale. A Checklist of Traumatic Childhood Events was filled out by
clinicians. The results showed an increase in the degree of dissociative e
xperiences in patients with a history of sexual abuse, physical abuse, negl
ect, and stressful life events. With the exception of Life events, a modera
te form of traumatic experience had the same effect on dissociative experie
nces as severe forms. The strongest effect was found for emotional neglect,
which seems to be an important pathogenic risk factor. The results suggest
that therapists and researchers should be aware that even less severe form
s of abuse and neglect may have a significant impact on the development of
dissociative psychopathology in adolescents.