Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
January 1, 2014
Yochai Ataria
19 citations
Dissociation during trauma is a strong predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder, yet its fundamental aspects remain poorly understood. This article argues that applying the phenomenological structure of time and the phenomenological description of the self—including the minimal self, sense of ownership, sense of agency, and sense of self—can improve understanding of dissociation during trauma, both at its occurrence and in any ensuing symptoms. The phenomenological approach, which focuses on the bodily level of experience, particularly the body as experienced from within, enables deeper insight into the traumatic experience. This improved understanding may facilitate the development of better treatments.
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
November 21, 2025
John A O'Neil
14 citations
Dissociative multiplicity—the presence of more than one center of consciousness or 'I,' as seen in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and subthreshold DID (OSDD-1)—poses a fundamental challenge for classical psychoanalysis. Classic constructs such as splitting, repression, triadic models (oedipal, topographic, structural, Fairbairnian, Kohutian), object relations, and attachment theory cannot fully account for this phenomenon, though they remain partially applicable. The paper explains why these frameworks fall short and reflects on what is needed to reintegrate dissociation into mainstream psychoanalytic theory and practice.
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
January 1, 2013
Elizabeth Hegeman
10 citations
The paper suggests historical links between cultural domination and dissociative spiritual responses to oppression, using three examples: the Zar cult of Southern Sudan, Puerto Rican syndrome (ataque), and the Balinese trance dance. It argues that spirit possession functions as an escape from unbearable reality, a way to express forbidden needs and desires, a means of adopting an identity beyond traditional authorities, and a reenactment of traumatic experience.
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
January 1, 2017
Colin Ross
3 citations
Individuals being treated for dissociative identity disorder sometimes report childhood involvement in organized, multi-perpetrator ritual abuse and describe being "programmed" by the perpetrators, feeling this programming is beyond their control. The author presents treatment strategies based on therapeutic neutrality, applicable regardless of assumptions about memory accuracy. In such cases, "cult alters" express allegiance to perpetrators and their ideology, while the host personality often feels a helpless victim, creating a victim-rescuer-perpetrator triangle. Perpetrator introjects can be engaged in therapy and become allies in recovery and integration.
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
January 1, 2025
Ivano Caselli, Marta Ielmini, Giulia Gastaldello et al.
2 citations
Pathological dissociation involves disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, perception, and affect, often linked to trauma. This systematic review of 123 studies identifies increased prefrontal cortex activation and reduced hippocampal volume as potential biomarkers for pathological dissociation. Altered connectivity in the limbic system, frequently tied to childhood trauma, further supports the neurobiological basis of dissociative symptoms. Biochemical and genetic findings are promising but inconsistent, requiring more validation. Identifying reliable biomarkers could improve diagnostic accuracy, guide personalized treatments, and monitor therapy responses.
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
September 27, 2024
Philipp Wülfing, Carsten Spitzer
Dissociation—a fragmentation of consciousness, memory, identity, perception, body representation, or behavior—lacks a unified definition and its dimensionality is debated. Using Exploratory Graph Analysis (EGA) on the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) responses from 668 day-hospital psychotherapy patients with diverse mental disorders, a four-dimensional structure was initially found but proved unstable. After removing unstable items, a final network of 16 items mapped onto three stable dimensions: segregated processes, derealization/depersonalization, and absorption. This three-factor solution aligns with a bipartite model distinguishing altered states of consciousness (detachment) from non-integrated mental modules (compartmentalization), replicating and extending prior findings on dissociation's structure.
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
January 1, 2022
Paul Frewen, Bethany L Brand, Hugo J Schielke et al.
Trauma-related dissociation can be understood through a 4-dimensional model that distinguishes altered states of consciousness from distress symptoms across time, thought, body, and emotions. In 111 people with trauma-related dissociative disorders receiving in-person psychotherapy plus an online psychoeducational program, intrusive memories were more common than flashbacks, and emotional numbing was more common than other forms of affect dysregulation. Negative thoughts and emotion dysregulation correlated more strongly than did voice hearing and emotional numbing. Distress symptoms were more tied to PTSD symptoms and emotion regulation difficulties, while depersonalization was more linked to dissociative self-states. Distress symptoms also reduced more than altered states during treatment. Results support distinguishing distress from dissociation, though findings varied across dimensions.
Journal of trauma & dissociation : the official journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)
January 1, 2007
Theresa K Albini
This paper argues that Virginia Woolf's novel The Waves metaphorically represents the internal experiences of dissociation. The narrative maps Woolf's own internal system as it changes across her lifespan, revealing the dissociative nature of her mind through both literary method and language. By examining Woolf's autobiographies, journals, and letters, parallels between fact and fiction become apparent. The work suggests that what critics perceived as artificial language and departure from typical stream of consciousness actually depicts dissociative phenomena, illuminating how Woolf submerged personal facts while revealing her internal landscape.