Dissociative experiences in individuals with subclinical psychosis and a history of developmental trauma: a qualitative study
Creators: name: Melegkovits, Eirini Aikaterini
name: Mason, Ava
name: Reid, Jordan
name: Akooly, Hind
name: Jung, Paul
name: Bloomfield, Michael
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Science Policy
subject: Mental Health

description: <b>Background:</b> Among individuals with psychotic experiences, those with a history of developmental trauma face greater symptom severity and worse clinical outcomes compared to those without. Dissociation constitutes a prominent, characteristic of this group’s clinical presentation, whose nuances and associated characteristics remain however understudied in psychosis research. We aimed to address this gap by conducting a qualitative study to investigate the phenomenology, context, and impact of dissociative experiences in individuals with subclinical psychosis and a history of developmental trauma. <b>Methods:</b> 25 UK-based participants with a history of developmental trauma and meeting criteria for subclinical psychosis, based on the CAPE-15, were recruited via social media. Participants attended semi-structured interviews online, which were transcribed verbatim and analysed with thematic analysis by two researchers. <b>Results:</b> Thematic analysis yielded the following themes: (1) Phenomenology of Dissociation; (2) Context of Dissociation; (3) Impact of Dissociation; (4) Dissociation and Psychotic-like Phenomena. Participants described experiences of detachment and compartmentalisation, which when experienced were confusing and often distressing. Dissociation was linked to affective experiences, their history of developmental trauma and psychotic-like experiences. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study elucidates the complex and varied nature of dissociative experiences in individuals with subclinical psychosis with a history of developmental trauma. These findings highlight the need for further research to understand the manifestation of dissociation in this population and the links with distress and other aspects of psychopathology. Importantly, it is essential to use this understanding to inform the development of interventions and improve clinical recognition and management. Dissociative experiences, and especially depersonalisation, are a frequent and highly heterogeneous experience among individuals with subclinical psychotic symptoms and developmental trauma.Dissociation is identified as a way of coping at the time of developmental trauma, but also as a response to post-traumatic intrusions, intense and distressing emotions and hallucinations.Dissociative experiences elicit feelings of panic and helplessness, and are linked to the occurrence of psychotic-like experiences, such as hallucinations and mistrust of others. Dissociative experiences, and especially depersonalisation, are a frequent and highly heterogeneous experience among individuals with subclinical psychotic symptoms and developmental trauma. Dissociation is identified as a way of coping at the time of developmental trauma, but also as a response to post-traumatic intrusions, intense and distressing emotions and hallucinations. Dissociative experiences elicit feelings of panic and helplessness, and are linked to the occurrence of psychotic-like experiences, such as hallucinations and mistrust of others.