NCJ Number
145424
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 17 Issue: 5 Dated: (September-October 1993) Pages: 677-686
Date Published
1993
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Dissociative experiences and disorders among women who are survivors of sexual abuse were examined by means of interviews of 51 women ages 18-65 who identified themselves as survivors of child sexual abuse.
Abstract
The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) and the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) were used to collect data. Results revealed that 88.2 percent of the women had a dissociative disorder of some type; 54.9 percent had a diagnosis of multiple personality disorder. The women had high DES scores; a high number of secondary features of multiple personality disorder; and high rates of depression, borderline personality, drug abuse, somatic symptoms, Schneiderian symptoms, supernatural experiences, suicide attempts, and conversion symptoms. The vast majority of sexual abuse survivors in this sample had extensive dissociative symptoms and related features. Results indicated that therapists working with adult survivors of sexual abuse should be knowledgeable about dissociation, should thoroughly assess a client's dissociative abilities, and should incorporate these findings into the therapy process. Therapists should also be alert to the possibility that clients with certain dissociative symptoms have been abused as children, even if they have no awareness of any traumatic experiences. Tables and 44 references (Author abstract modified)