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http://dx.doi.org/10.24986/anxmod.2022.18.2.005

The Association Between Childhood Interpersonal Trauma and Psychiatric Symptom Complexity, and the Mediating Impact of Dissociation  

Kim, Yaeseul (Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine)
Kim, Seok Hyeon (Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine)
Kim, Daeho (Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University College of Medicine)
Kim, Eun Kyoung (Department of Psychiatry, Hanyang University Guri Hospital)
Kim, Jiyeong (Biostatistical Consulting and Research Lab, Medical Research Collaborating Center, Hanyang University)
Choi, Nayeon (Biostatistical Consulting and Research Lab, Medical Research Collaborating Center, Hanyang University)
Publication Information
Anxiety and mood / v.18, no.2, 2022 , pp. 72-79 More about this Journal
Abstract
Objective : Any traumatic event can be a risk factor, for subsequent mental disorder. However, childhood trauma, especially in interpersonal nature, is associated with later development of complex symptom patterns. This study examined the role of dissociation as a mediator between childhood trauma and symptom complexity. Methods : A pooled data of 369 psychiatric outpatients at a university-affiliated hospital was analyzed for descriptive statistics, group differences, and bivariate correlation analysis to verify a structural model. The questionnaires included the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised, the Trauma History Screen, the Dissociative Experiences Scale-Taxon, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Abbreviated PTSD checklist. Results : When other trauma variables were controlled, childhood interpersonal trauma had significant correlation with symptom complexity (r=0.155, p=0.003). Among the paths analyzed, that of childhood interpersonal trauma and dissociation showed the greatest impact on symptom complexity (b=9.34, t=5.75, p<0.001). Based on the significance of the indirect impact, the results suggest a complete mediation impact of dissociation on symptom complexity. Conclusion : This study validated that childhood interpersonal trauma impacts symptom complexity, through the sequential mediating impact of dissociation. Thus, clinicians should understand childhood interpersonal trauma, dissociation, and symptom patterns in a complex and interacting mode, and develop effective pertinent treatment strategies.
Keywords
Childhood trauma; Child abuse; Interpersonal trauma; Dissociation; Symptom complexity; Psychiatric outpatients;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 2  (Citation Analysis)
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