Association of Childhood Complex Trauma and Dissociation With Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Adulthood

J Trauma Dissociation. 2015;16(4):428-41. doi: 10.1080/15299732.2015.1016253. Epub 2015 Apr 23.

Abstract

This study replicates and extends prior research on the relationship of childhood complex trauma (CCT) and complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) in adulthood, examining the role of psychoform and somatoform dissociation as a potential mediator. CCT, dissociation, and cPTSD were assessed in a large sample of adult psychiatric inpatients. Almost two thirds of participants reported having experienced CCT. Path analyses with bootstrap confidence intervals demonstrated a relationship between CCT, psychoform (but not somatoform) dissociation, and cPTSD. In addition, psychoform dissociation partially mediated the relationship between CCT and adult cPTSD symptoms. Dissociation (pathological or nonpathological psychoform and somatoform symptoms) warrants further clinical and scientific study as a potential link between CCT and the presence of adult cPTSD symptoms and/or the dissociative subtype of PTSD.

Keywords: childhood trauma; complex posttraumatic stress disorder; dissociation.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Comorbidity
  • Dissociative Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Dissociative Disorders / psychology*
  • Dissociative Disorders / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Life Change Events*
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Psychological
  • Psychological Trauma / diagnosis*
  • Psychological Trauma / psychology*
  • Psychotherapy
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy