| Abstract [eng] |
In the new ICD-11 classification, a new complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) diagnosis has been included. CPTSD is a disorder that may develop following exposure to an event or series of events of extremely threatening or horrific nature, most commonly prolonged or repetitive events from which escape is difficult or impossible. Dissociation – a phenomenon that is closely related to the experience of traumatic events – hasn’t been researched a lot for associations with CPTSD. It is not entirely clear what is the role of dissociation in trying to understand the link between traumatic events and CPTSD symptomatology. Hence, this study aimed to investigate links between traumatic experiences, CPTSD, and dissociative symptoms. The study sample consisted of 105 adults who have experienced at least one traumatic event in their life (81 (77,1%) women; age: M(SD) = 34,92(12,48), age range: 19-79). Instruments used: Life Events Checlist-Revised (LEC-R; Weathers et al., 2013), International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ; Cloitre et al., 2018), Dissociative Symptoms Scale (DSS; Carlson et al., 2018). Results revealed that 32,4 percent of participants fell into the CPTSD risk group. Participants who fell into the CPTSD risk group had more pronounced dissociative symptoms than those who did not fall into the CPTSD risk group. Moreover, participants who experienced physical abuse in childhood or sexual abuse in adulthood had more pronounced CPTSD symptoms than those who didn’t. Also, participants who experienced sexual abuse in adulthood had more pronounced dissociative symptoms than those who didn’t. Finally, dissociative symptoms mediated the relationship between the number of experienced interpersonal traumas and CPTSD symptoms. The results of this study revealed significant associations between the experience of traumatic events and the expression of dissociative and CPTSD symptoms. Future research would benefit from examining the associations between traumatic events, CPTSD, and dissociative disorders, not only dissociative symptoms. |
