Early traumatized inpatients high in psychoform and somatoform dissociation: Characteristics and treatment response
Abstract
This study examined the clinical relevance of differences in psychoform and somatoform dissociative symptoms in 55 early traumatized inpatients. The high psychoform and somatoform dissociative group (n = 18), somatoform dissociative group (n = 22), and nondissociative group (n = 15) did not differ on abuse severity, depressive symptoms, interpersonal problems, Axis I or II comorbidity, or deterioration rates. Compared to the other 2 groups, the highly dissociative group was characterized by younger age, living alone, higher levels of posttraumatic and general distress, more frequent reports of suicidality, self-mutilation, eating problems, and less favorable treatment response. The results highlight the clinical relevance of using dissociation measures for identifying subgroups of patients with severe psychopathology who may be more treatment resistant.
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The effects of standard psychodynamic psychotherapy for DID on core dissociative symptoms are small or absent.
“The results indicated that, although the general functioning of patients improved, the effects of this treatment on the core symptoms (i.e., dissociative symptoms) are small or absent.”
From Schema therapy for Dissociative Identity Disorder: a case report (2023) · cites this paper as [7]
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Jepsen, E. K. K., Langeland, W., Frost, K., & Sele, P. (2026) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008066.2026.2698899
- Authors
- Jepsen, E. K. K., Langeland, W., & Heir, T.
- Affiliations
- Modum Bad – Gordon Johnsens stiftelse (NO)
- Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
- University of Oslo (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Jepsen, Ellen K. K.
- Venue
- Journal of Trauma & Dissociation
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2014-09-30
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 572-587
- ISSN
- 1529-9732 (ISSN-L)
- 1529-9740
- OpenAlex
- W2087423033
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1
- FWCI
- 1.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Trauma & Dissociation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- dissociation, somatoform dissociation, childhood trauma, treatment resistance, suicidality, self-mutilation, eating disorders, posttraumatic distress
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Agoraphobia, Feeding and Eating Disorders, Child, Child Abuse, Sexual, Major Depressive Disorder, Dissociative Disorders, Female, Humans, Inpatients, Male, Norway, Phobic Disorders, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychometrics, Risk Factors, Somatoform Disorders, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Self-Injurious Behavior, Suicidal Ideation
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