Sleep-Related Dissociative Disorders.

In sleep-related dissociative disorders, phenomena of the psychiatrically defined dissociative disorders emerge during the sleep period. They occur during sustained wakefulness, either in the transition to sleep or following an awakening from sleep. Behaviors during episodes vary widely, and can result in injury to self or others. Daytime dissociative episodes and a background of trauma are almost always present; there is typically major co-existing psychopathology. Diagnosis is based on both clinical history and polysomnography; differential diagnosis primarily involves other parasomnias and nocturnal seizures. Information available about treatment is limited; in a few reported cases, psychological interventions have proven effective.

Peripartum dissociation, sense of control, postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder and emotional adjustment to motherhood in adult survivors of childhood maltreatment.

Survivors of childhood maltreatment (CM) may experience difficulties in the peripartum period and in adjustment to motherhood. In this study we examined a model wherein CM is associated with maternal self-efficacy and maternal bonding three months postpartum, through mediation of peripartum dissociation and reduced sense of control during childbirth and postpartum-posttraumatic-stress disorder (P-PTSD). Women were recruited in a maternity ward within 48 h of childbirth (T1, N = 440), and contacted three-months postpartum (T2, N = 295). Participants completed self-report questionnaires: peripartum dissociation, sense of control (T1), and CM, P-PTSD, postpartum-depression, maternal self-efficacy and bonding (T2). Obstetrical data were collected from medical files. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test the hypothesized model, controlling for mode of delivery and postpartum-depression. Reported CM included child emotional neglect (CEN; 23.5%), child emotional abuse (CEA; 16.3%), child sexual abuse (CSA; 12.9%) and child physical abuse (CPA; 7.1%). CM was positively associated with peripartum dissociation and P-PTSD (p < .001). Peripartum dissociation was positively associated with P-PTSD (p < .001). P-PTSD was negatively associated with maternal self-efficacy (p < .001) and maternal bonding (p < .001). Association between CM and maternal self-efficacy and bonding was serially mediated by peripartum dissociation and P-PTSD, but not by sense of control. Findings remained significant after controlling for mode of delivery and postpartum-depression. CM is a risk factor for adjustment to motherhood, owing to its effects on peripartum dissociation and P-PTSD. Implementation of a trauma-informed approach in obstetric care and recognition of peripartum dissociative reactions are warranted.

Nocturnal agitation: From sleep state dissociation to sleep-related dissociative state.

Nocturnal agitation refers to a broad spectrum of symptoms from simple movements to aggressive behaviors with partial or complete loss of awareness. An accurate identification of its etiology is critical for appropriate therapeutic intervention. In children and young adults, distinguishing between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep parasomnias and psychogenic non-parasomniac manifestations, a condition known as sleep-related dissociative disorder (SRDD), can be challenging. This review aims to summarize current clinical, neurophysiological, and epidemiological knowledge on NREM parasomnia and SRDD, and to present the pathophysiological hypotheses underlying these nocturnal manifestations. Sleepwalking, sleep terror and confusional arousals are the three main presentations of NREM parasomnias and share common clinical characteristics. Parasomniac episodes generally occur 30minutes to three hours after sleep-onset, they are usually short, lasting no more than few minutes and involve non-stereotyped, clumsy behaviors with frequent amnesia. The prevalence of NREM parasomnia decreases from 15-30% in children to 2-4% in adults. Parasomniac episodes are incomplete awakening from the deepest NREM sleep and are characterized by a dissociated brain activity, with a wake-like activation in motor and limbic structures and a preserved sleep in the fronto-parietal regions. SRDD is a less known condition characterized by dramatic, often very long episodes with frequent aggressive and potentially dangerous behaviors. SRDD episodes frequently occur in quiet wakefulness before falling asleep. These dissociative manifestations are frequently observed in the context of psychological trauma. The pathophysiology of SRDD is poorly understood but could involve transient changes in brain connectivity due to labile sleep-wake boundaries in predisposed individuals. We hypothesize that SRDD and NREM parasomnia are forms of sleep-related dissociative states favored by a sleep-wake state dissociation during sleep-onset and awakening process, respectively.

Experiencing racial discrimination increases vulnerability to PTSD after trauma via peritraumatic dissociation.

Background: Racial discrimination is a traumatic stressor that increases the risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but mechanisms to explain this relationship remain unclear. Peritraumatic dissociation, the complex process of disorientation, depersonalization, and derealization during a trauma, has been a consistent predictor of PTSD. Experiences of frequent racial discrimination may increase the propensity for peritraumatic dissociation in the context of new traumatic experiences and contribute to PTSD symptoms. However, the role of peritraumatic dissociation in the relationship between experiences of discrimination and PTSD has not been specifically explored.Objective: The current study investigated the role of peritraumatic dissociation in the impact of racial discrimination on PTSD symptoms after a traumatic injury, and the moderating role of gender.Method: One hundred and thirteen Black/African American individuals were recruited from the Emergency Department at a Level I Trauma Center. Two weeks after the trauma, participants self-reported their experiences with racial discrimination and peritraumatic dissociation. At the six-month follow-up appointment, individuals underwent a clinical assessment of their PTSD symptoms.Results: Results of longitudinal mediation analyses showed that peritraumatic dissociation significantly mediated the effect of racial discrimination on PTSD symptoms, after controlling for age and lifetime trauma exposure. A secondary analysis was conducted to examine the moderating role of gender. Gender was not a significant moderator in the model.Conclusions: Findings show that racial discrimination functions as a stressor that impacts how individuals respond to other traumatic events. The novel results suggest a mechanism that explains the relationship between racial discrimination and PTSD symptoms. These findings highlight the need for community spaces where Black Americans can process racial trauma and reduce the propensity to detach from daily, painful realities. Results also show that clinical intervention post-trauma must consider Black Americans' experiences with racial discrimination.

Peritraumatic dissociation operates as a mechanism through which racial discrimination predicts posttraumatic symptoms in an adult trauma sample.Racial discrimination functions as a stressor that increases the risk for trauma-related symptoms.The lived experiences of Black Americans elicit the use of emotional detachment strategies that may mitigate effects of racial discrimination but increase the risk for peritraumatic dissociation.

The mediation role of impulsivity between childhood trauma and dissociative symptomatology in bipolar disorder.

In bipolar disorder (BD) patients, trauma has been associated with emotional dysregulation, potentially leading to an increase in impulsivity and dissociative symptomatology. We aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma, impulsivity, and dissociative symptomatology in BD with a special focus on the role of impulsivity as a mediator between childhood trauma and dissociative symptomatology. METHODS: We administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), Dissociative Experience Scale (DES-II), and Alda scale. Spearman correlation analysis assessed the independent variables associated with CTQ and DES-II. We performed a mediation analysis using the bootstrapping technique to verify the hypothesis that impulsivity represented an intervening variable between childhood trauma and dissociation. RESULTS: CTQ and DES-II scores in 100 BD patients were both significantly associated with the number of lifetime affective episodes, a clinical course of mania-depression-euthymia, suicidal ideation, a history of antidepressant-induced manic switch, poor response to mood stabilizers, mixed features, psychotic symptoms, aggressive behavior, and BIS-11 (p<0.01). At the regression analysis, CTQ was associated with DES-II (p<0.001), while DES-II was associated with the CTQ (p<0.001) and BIS-11 (p< 0.001), as well as with aggression (p=0.002). The mediation analysis showed that impulsivity significantly mediated the effect of childhood trauma on dissociative symptomatology (z=25.71; 0.930-1.084). CONCLUSIONS: Impulsivity might play a key role in onset and prognosis of BD patients. Our findings may help in increasing the knowledge about the possible association between impulsivity, childhood traumatic experiences and dissociative symptomatology. BD patients with dissociative symptoms might benefit from a tailored treatment which could include a training based on emotional and behavioral regulation.

Cultural issues: Perspectives and experiences of patients with dissociative seizures in Argentina.

PURPOSE: To explore patients' subjective experience when receiving a diagnosis of Dissociative Seizures (DS) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and their explanatory models about DS. METHOD: A qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews was used to gain an in-depth and contextual understanding of the perspectives of 19 patients with DS. Data collection and analysis were followed by an inductive and interpretive approach informed by the principles of thematic analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged: 1) Reactions to the Diagnosis; 2) Ways of Naming the Disease; 3) Own Explanatory Models; 4) External Explanatory Models. CONCLUSIONS: This information might help achieve an adequate knowledge of the local characteristics of patients with DS. Most patients could not express any emotions or considerations about being diagnosed with DS, and they related their seizures to a personal or social-emotional conflict and environmental stress; however, family members related patients' seizures to a biological cause. It is important to analyze cultural differences in patients with DS in order to develop appropriate interventions for this specific population.

Multidimensional psychopathological profile differences between patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures and epileptic seizure disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Early differential diagnosis of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) and epileptic seizures (ES) remains difficult. Self-reported psychopathology is often elevated in patients with PNES, although relatively few studies have examined multiple measures of psychopathology simultaneously. This study aimed to identify differences in multidimensional psychopathology profiles between PNES and ES patient groups. METHOD: This was a retrospective case-control study involving patients admitted for video-EEG monitoring (VEM) over a two-year period. Clinicodemographic variables and psychometric measures of depression, anxiety, dissociation, childhood trauma, maladaptive personality traits, and cognition were recorded. Diagnosis of PNES or ES was determined by multidisciplinary assessment and consensus opinion. General linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to investigate profile differences between diagnostic groups across psychometric measures. A general psychopathology factor was then computed using principal components analysis (PCA) and differences between groups in this 'p' factor were investigated. RESULTS: 261 patients (77 % with ES and 23 % with PNES) were included in the study. The PNES group endorsed greater symptomatology with GLMM demonstrating a significant main effect of group (η2p = 0.05) and group by measure interaction (η2p = 0.03). Simple effects analysis indicated that the PNES group had particularly elevated scores for childhood trauma (ß = 0.78), dissociation (ß = 0.70), and depression (ß = 0.60). There was a high correlation between psychopathology measures, with a single p factor generated to explain 60 % variance in the psychometric scores. The p factor was elevated in the PNES group (ß = 0.61). ROC curve analysis indicated that these psychometric measures had limited usefulness when considered individually (AUC range = 0.63-0.69). CONCLUSION: Multidimensional psychopathological profile differences exist between patients with PNES and ES. Patients with PNES report more psychopathology overall, with particular elevations in childhood trauma, dissociation, and depression. Although not suitable to be used as a standalone screening tool to differentiate PNES and ES, understanding of these profiles at a construct level might help triage patients and guide further psychiatric examination and enquiry.

Ganser syndrome - a dissociative disorder or a factitious disorder? A case report. / Zespól Gansera ­ zaburzenie dysocjacyjne czy zaburzenie pozorowane? Opis przypadku.

Ganser syndrome (GS) is one of afew eponyms that have survived in psychiatry until the present day. GS is a little-known and rare disorder. It is most often described as a response to a stressor (e.g. incarceration), that is why it is an important issue in forensic psychiatry. Organic causes are taken into consideration. The basic symptoms of the syndrome are: approximate answers, visual and auditory hallucinations, clouding of consciousness and conversion symptoms. Additionally, patients may perform activities in an awry manner and suffer from insensitivity to painful stimuli.GS is usually acute and subsides spontaneously. Usually patients do not remember they had an episode of the disease. Diagnostic criteria of GS are imprecise and its classification has been changed over the years. GS was not listed in the DSM-5 classification, although in the DSM-IV it was classified as a dissociative disorder. Currently some authors tend to classify it rather as a factitious disorder. WHO (ICD-10 and ICD-11) classifies GS as a dissociative and conversion disorder, which seems to be appropriate in the light of current knowledge. The presented case report describes apatient with a nearly identical pattern of full-blown GS, which occurred twice. The symptoms appeared shortly after the patient was incarcerated. The course of the disorder was chronic and recurrent. The patient was insensitive to pain stimuli. Somatic causes were excluded in the diagnostic process.

The relationship between sleep, dissociation and psychotic-like experiences.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances have frequently been associated with the full spectrum of psychosis, from psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) to individuals who meet diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. Similarly, dissociative experiences have been linked to both sleep disturbances and PLEs. AIM: The aim of this study was to examine the role of dissociation in the relationship between sleep quality and PLEs. METHODS: PLEs, dissociative symptoms, and sleep quality were examined in 1677 young adults using self-report measures. A mediation analysis was performed to examine whether dissociative experiences account for some of the relationship between sleep quality and PLEs. RESULTS: Dissociative symptoms significantly mediated the relationship between sleep quality and PLEs, with both age and gender used as covariates. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that dissociation may be a key contributor to the relationship between disrupted sleep and PLEs, which could have treatment and identification implications.

An examination of the relations between emotion dysregulation, dissociation, and self-injury among dissociative disorder patients.

Background: Dissociative disorder (DD) patients report high rates of self-injury. Previous studies have found dissociation and self-injury to be related to emotional distress. To the best of our knowledge, however, the link between emotion dysregulation and self-injury has not yet been examined within a DD population. Objective: The present study investigated relations between emotion dysregulation, dissociation, and self-injury in DD patients, and explored patterns of emotion dysregulation difficulties among DD patients with and without recent histories of self-injury. Method: We utilized linear and logistic regressions and t-test statistical methods to examine data from 235 patient-clinician dyads enrolled in the TOP DD Network Study. Results: Analyses revealed emotion dysregulation was associated with heightened dissociative symptoms and greater endorsement of self-injury in the past six months. Further, patients with a history of self-injury in the past six months reported more severe emotion dysregulation and dissociation than those without recent self-injury. As a group, DD patients reported the greatest difficulty engaging in goal-directed activities when distressed, followed by lack of emotional awareness and nonacceptance of emotional experiences. DD patients demonstrated similar patterns of emotion dysregulation difficulties irrespective of recent self-injury status. Conclusions: Results support recommendations to strengthen emotion regulation skills as a means to decrease symptoms of dissociation and self-injury in DD patients.

Antecedentes: Los pacientes con trastorno disociativo (DD en sus siglas en inglés) reportan altas tasas de autolesiones. Estudios anteriores han encontrado que la disociación y las autolesiones están relacionadas con el sufrimiento emocional. Sin embargo, hasta donde sabemos, la relación entre la desregulación emocional y las autolesiones aún no se ha examinado en una población con DD.Objetivo: El presente estudio investigó las relaciones entre la desregulación emocional, la disociación y la autolesión en pacientes con DD, y exploró los patrones de las dificultades de desregulación emocional entre los pacientes con DD con y sin historias recientes de autolesión.Método: Se utilizaron regresiones lineales y logísticas y métodos estadísticos de prueba t para examinar los datos de 235 díadas paciente-médico inscritas en el Estudio TOP DD Network.Resultados: Los análisis revelaron que la desregulación emocional se asoció con un aumento de los síntomas disociativos y una mayor tendencia a la autolesión en los últimos seis meses. Además, los pacientes con un historial de autolesiones en los últimos seis meses informaron de una desregulación emocional y una disociación más graves que los que no se habían autolesionado recientemente. Como grupo, los pacientes con DD informaron de la mayor dificultad para participar en actividades dirigidas a objetivos cuando estaban angustiados, seguidos por la falta de conciencia emocional y la no aceptación de las experiencias emocionales. Los pacientes con DD demostraron patrones similares de dificultades de desregulación emocional, independientemente del estado de autolesión reciente.Conclusiones: Los resultados apoyan las recomendaciones de fortalecer las habilidades de regulación de las emociones como medio para disminuir los síntomas de disociación y autolesión en pacientes con DD.

The role of attachment and dissociation in the relationship between childhood interpersonal trauma and negative symptoms in psychosis.

Negative symptoms have an adverse impact on quality of life and functioning in psychosis. Service users with psychosis have identified negative symptoms as a priority for their recovery. Despite this, there is a lack of effective and targeted psychological interventions for negative symptoms and their underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Childhood trauma is a robust risk factor for positive symptoms in psychosis, but the association with negative symptoms is less well established. Our aim was to examine the association between childhood interpersonal trauma and negative symptoms and the psychological mediators of this relationship. Two hundred and forty participants experiencing psychosis completed validated self-report measures of childhood trauma, attachment, dissociation, compartmentalization, and symptoms. Mediation analyses showed that disorganized attachment and dissociative experiences mediated the association between childhood trauma and negative symptoms, when analysed individually and in a combined model. Models adjusted for age and positive and depressive symptoms. Avoidant attachment and compartmentalization were independently associated with negative symptoms but not childhood trauma and thus were not significant mediators. Childhood trauma was not independently associated with negative symptoms. This paper is the first to present empirical data to support a model implicating attachment and dissociation as important psychological processes in the link between childhood trauma and negative symptoms. These exploratory findings suggest that it may be beneficial to consider these relationships in trauma-informed formulations and interventions. Further longitudinal research is required to establish causality and test theoretical models of mechanisms in the pathway to negative symptoms.

The reasons dissociative disorder patients self-injure.

Background: Most individuals with dissociative disorders (DDs) report engaging in self-injury. Objective: The present study aimed to understand the reasons for self-injury among a clinical sample of 156 DD patients enrolled in the TOP DD Network study. Method: Participants answered questions about self-injury, including a prompt asking how often they are aware of the reasons they have urges to self-injure, as well as a prompt asking them to list three reasons they self-injure. Results: Six themes of reasons for self-injury, each with subthemes, were identified in the qualitative data: (1) Trauma-related Cues, (2) Emotion Dysregulation, (3) Stressors, (4) Psychiatric and Physical Health Symptoms, (5) Dissociative Experiences, and (6) Ineffective Coping Attempts. Participants reported that they were able to identify their reasons for self-injuring sometimes (60.26%) or almost always (28.85%), with only 3.20% unable to identify any reasons for their self-injury. Conclusion: Results suggest that the vast majority of DD patients (92.31%) reported being at least partially unaware of what leads them to have self-injury urges, and many individuals with DDs experience some reasons for self-injury that are different from those with other disorders. The treatment implications of these findings are discussed.

Antecedentes:La mayoría de los individuos con trastornos disociativos (DDs por sus siglas en inglés) informan realizarse autolesiones. Objetivo: El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo el comprender las razones de las autolesiones en una muestra clínica de 156 pacientes con DD enroladas en el estudio TOP DD Network.Método:Los participantes respondieron a preguntas sobre las autolesiones, incluyendo una pregunta sobre la frecuencia con la que son conscientes de las razones por las que se autolesionan, así como una pregunta que les pedía que enumeraran tres razones por las que se autolesionan.Resultados:En los datos cualitativos se identificaron seis temas de motivos de autolesión, cada uno con subtemas: (1) Claves relacionadas con el trauma, (2) Desregulación emocional, (3) Estresores, (4) Síntomas psiquiátricos y de salud física, (5) Experiencias disociativas y (6) Intentos de afrontamiento ineficaces. Los participantes informaron que pudieron identificar sus razones para autolesionarse a veces (60,26%) o casi siempre (28,85%), y solo el 3,20% no pudo identificar las razones de sus autolesiones.Conclusiones:Los resultados sugieren que la gran mayoría de los pacientes con DD (92.31%) informaron no ser, al menos parcialmente, conscientes de lo que los lleva a tener deseos de autolesionarse y muchos individuos con DDs experimentan algunas razones de autolesión que son distintas de las que padecen otros trastornos. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos hallazgos en el tratamiento.

A series of 8 cases of sleep-related psychogenic dissociative disorders and proposed updated diagnostic criteria.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To identify the most relevant clinical and video-polysomnographic characteristics of patients with sleep-related dissociative disorders (SRDDs) and to propose a framework for new diagnostic criteria. METHODS: We searched potential SRDD cases from the scientific literature and from a database of patients referred for clinical and video-polysomnographic assessment in a single sleep disorders center for disruptive nocturnal behaviors (n = 731). The most relevant clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of the cases were extracted and a descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-six SRDD cases (8 new and 18 previously published cases) were reviewed. Almost all cases of SRDDs occurred in a context of past traumatic events or abuse and were associated with at least 1 comorbid psychiatric disorder. We highlighted 4 relevant clinical characteristics of SRDD useful for the differential diagnosis with parasomnias: episodes of long duration of more than 1 hour (90.9%), self-inflicted injuries (83.3%), occurrence while awake close to bedtime (35.7%), and the presence of daytime dissociative symptoms (72.7%). The video-polysomnography documented typical episodes of SRDD with prolonged wakefulness before, during, and after the event in 11/26 cases. New diagnostic criteria for SRDD were proposed, with 3 levels of certainty for the diagnosis based on clinical, video-polysomnographic, and homemade video findings. CONCLUSIONS: More than 30 years after its formal identification, SRDD is not currently recognized as an official diagnostic entity. We better delineate the clinical and neurophysiological features of SRDD and propose a framework for its reinstatement in the next revisions of the sleep and psychiatric disorders classifications. CITATION: Lopez R, Lefevre L, Barateau L, Micoulaud-Franchi J-A, Dauvilliers Y, Schenck CH. A series of 8 cases of sleep-related psychogenic dissociative disorders and proposed updated diagnostic criteria. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(2):563-573.

Dissociative Symptoms are Highly Prevalent in Adults with Narcolepsy Type 1.

INTRODUCTION: The core symptoms of narcolepsy such as excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy are well known. However, there is mounting evidence for a much broader symptom spectrum, including psychiatric symptoms. Disordered sleep has previously been linked with dissociative symptoms, which may imply that patients with narcolepsy are more prone to develop such symptoms. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the frequency of dissociative symptoms in adult patients with narcolepsy type 1 compared to population controls. METHODS: In a retrospective case control study, sixty adult patients fulfilling the criteria for narcolepsy type 1 and 120 matched population control subjects received a structured interview using the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN) to assess dissociative symptoms and disorders. RESULTS: A majority of narcolepsy patients reported dissociative symptoms, and even fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria of a dissociative disorder (62% vs 1% in controls, p < .001). Most frequently reported symptoms were "dissociative amnesia" (37% vs 1%, p < .001) and "dissociative disorder of voluntary movement" (32% vs 1%, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Dissociative symptoms are strikingly prevalent in adult patients with narcolepsy type 1. Although a formal diagnosis of dissociation disorder should not be made as the symptoms can be explained by narcolepsy as an underlying condition, the findings do illustrate the extent and severity of the dissociative symptoms. As for the pathophysiological mechanism, there may be symptom overlap between narcolepsy and dissociation disorder. However, there may also be a more direct link between disrupted sleep and dissociative symptoms. In either case, the high frequency of occurrence of dissociative symptoms should result in an active inquiry by doctors, to improve therapeutic management and guidance.

Visual hallucinations in psychiatry - what aren't we seeing?

OBJECTIVE: To increase awareness of practising clinicians and researchers to the phenomenological distinctions between visual hallucinations and trauma-based, dissociative, visual re-experiencing phenomena seen in psychiatric disease. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of visual hallucinations is not exclusive to psychotic disorders in psychiatry. Different forms of experiences that resemble visual hallucinations may occur in patients with a trauma background and may potentially affect diagnosis. Given the paucity of literature around the subject, it is imperative that further research aims to characterise the distinction between visual hallucinations in psychosis and visual phenomena associated with trauma.

Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents With Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures.

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge regarding psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) is limited. This study outlines the spectrum and risk of psychiatric disorders in childhood-onset PNES. METHODS: We performed a nationwide matched cohort study of children and adolescents with PNES 5 to 17 years of age at the time of diagnosis between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2014. Two matched comparison groups were included: children and adolescents with epilepsy (ES) and children and adolescents without PNES or epilepsy, called healthy controls (HC). Outcomes were prevalent psychiatric disorders before index (i.e., date of diagnosis or corresponding date for HC) and incident psychiatric disorders 2 years after index. Relative risks (RRs) were calculated and adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: We included 384 children and adolescents with validated PNES, 1,152 with ES, and 1,920 HC. Among the cases of PNES, 153 (39.8%) had prevalent psychiatric disorders and 150 (39.1%) had incident psychiatric disorders. Compared to the ES and HC groups, children and adolescents with PNES had elevated risks of both prevalent psychiatric disorders (adjusted RRPNES/ES 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-2.21, adjusted RRPNES/HC 5.54, 95% CI 4.50-6.81) and incident psychiatric disorders (adjusted RRPNES/ES 2.33, 95% CI 1.92-2.83, adjusted RRPNES/HC 8.37, 95% CI 6.31-11.11). A wide spectrum of specific psychiatric disorders displayed elevated RRs. CONCLUSIONS: Children and adolescents with PNES are at higher risk of a wide range of psychiatric disorders compared to children and adolescents with ES and HC. A careful psychiatric evaluation is warranted to optimize and individualize treatment.

Psychoform and somatoform dissociation in anorexia nervosa: A systematic review.

Dissociation is a debilitating condition often present as comorbidity in patients with eating disorders, but to date only sparse findings are available on this topic. Additionally, very little data exist on the classification of dissociation, namely, psychoform and somatoform, in anorexia nervosa (AN). This review aimed to provide an updated view on the literature about dissociation in AN, with a focus on AN subtypes (i.e., restricter and binge-purging) as well as dissociation type (i.e., psychoform and somatoform), when available. We screened 304 studies, and after title and abstract selection and full-text reading, 29 of them were included in this review. Most of the studies investigated psychoform dissociation, whereas just four publications considered somatoform dissociation. Dissociation resulted to be present in AN more than in healthy controls and in individuals with other psychiatric disorders, and it was related mostly to the binge-purging subtype of AN. Moreover, dissociation was linked to traumatic events, self-harm and negative treatment outcomes, especially in patients affected by the binge-purging subtype of AN. However, results on these matters are scarce and partially discordant. The methodological assessment we performed revealed an overall fair quality of the included studies, although several flaws emerged as well. The present review reported on one hand the relevance of dissociation in AN, but on the other hand the need to stimulate the scientific debate on (a) a deeper investigation of somatoform dissociation in AN and (b) the relationship between dissociation and both clinical severity and treatment response/resistance in AN.

The influence of posttraumatic stress on memory complaints in neuropsychological settings.

Objective: Memory problems are a frequent complaint in neuropsychological settings, particularly among individuals in mid-to-late adulthood and those who have experienced neurological insult (e.g., head trauma; Bay et al., 2012; Lezak et al., 2004; Wammes et al., 2017). Neuropsychiatric comorbidities that influence cognitive functioning (e.g., depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress) are also common among neuropsychological patients, which can challenge interpreting etiology and predicting prognosis (Campbell et al., 2009; Reischies & Neu, 2000). Prolonged trauma exposure is associated with brain abnormalities in regions that subserve memory and executive functions (Daniels et al., 2016; Woon et al., 2010). Furthermore, a subgroup of individuals with trauma exposure experience dissociative symptoms, which can also interfere with memory and performing goal-directed behaviors (Bergouignan et al., 2014; Brewin et al., 2013; Özdemir et al., 2015). Method: In this article, we focus on symptoms that are consistent with dissociation and present three case studies of trauma-exposed women who were referred for neuropsychological testing following complaints of memory decline. Results: Formal neuropsychological testing did not fully support the degree of amnestic symptoms reported. Based upon the complex pattern of results, we propose a potential hypothesis for consideration: the dissociative interference hypothesis. Conclusions: For all three women presented, dissociation was a common symptom that may have contributed to an exacerbation of memory failures and amnestic experiences. Thus, interventions targeted at increasing awareness, rather than withdrawal, during times of stress may lead to a reduction in their memory complaints. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Psychosocial stress, somatoform dissociative symptoms and free testosterone in premature ejaculation.

One of the most common sexual dysfunctional diseases in adult males is premature ejaculation. So far, there is no evidence of how premature ejaculation is associated with psychosocial stress. We tested the relationship between neuroendocrine changes in patients with premature ejaculation and indicators of stress experience as a new psychosomatic hypothesis where psychosocial stress may significantly contribute to the aetiology of premature ejaculation. A total of 55 patients with premature ejaculation were included in the study. The control group consisted of 55 healthy men. The diagnosis of premature ejaculation was confirmed by a sexology examination, a history of patients and the values of the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool questionnaire. Comprehensive biochemical serum analysis was focused on the values of total testosterone, free testosterone, luteinising hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, sex hormone-binding globulin and a premature ejaculation diagnostic tool score with trauma symptom checklist and somatoform dissociation questionnaire. The results show significant Spearman correlations of trauma symptom checklist with the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool score (R = 0.84) and free testosterone (R = 0.62) and somatoform dissociation questionnaire with the premature ejaculation diagnostic tool score (R = 0.53) and free testosterone (R = 0.57). Spearman correlations of trauma symptom checklist with somatoform dissociation questionnaire show significant correlation (R = 0.54).