European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation最新文献

{"title":"Remission of PTSD and comorbid OCD symptoms through psychotherapy for nightmares: A case report","authors":"Aurore Roland","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Research on nightmares and psychiatric disorders has predominantly focused on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This case report aims to explore the impact of treating post-traumatic nightmares on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms that emerged following a traumatic experience.</div></div><div><h3>Case</h3><div>A woman in her mid-twenties with PTSD, post-traumatic nightmares and OCD symptoms was treated with exposure, relaxation and rescripting therapy (ERRT). This therapy consists of altering one’s nightmares and repeatedly imagining the new dream during wakefulness, supplemented with sleep hygiene, time-in-bed restriction, stimulus control, exposure to the nightmares and relaxation techniques.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results indicate that utilizing ERRT for Laura's post-traumatic nightmares has resulted in the remission of PTSD, comorbid OCD symptoms, nightmares, insomnia symptoms and stress, along with a significant reduction in anxiety.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This case study illustrates that treating post-traumatic nightmares through ERRT in an individual with comorbid post-traumatic OCD symptoms is feasible and can positively impact both nightmares and OCD symptoms. The underlying mechanism is hypothesized to be that improving sleep enhances both fear extinction learning and emotion regulation—two processes known to be impaired in OCD. In this particular case, the reduction in evening hyperarousal and anxiety, resulting from the time-in-bed restriction, likely also contributed to a decrease in obsessive thoughts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100590"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“Wait with me until it’s over”: A reflexive thematic analysis of adolescents’ coping with dissociation","authors":"Dr Bronwyn Milkins ,&nbsp;Prof Helen Milroy ,&nbsp;Dr Maryam Boutrus ,&nbsp;Dr Giulia Pace ,&nbsp;Prof Jeneva L. Ohan","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100600","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100600","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Dissociation is often distressing, yet how affected adolescents manage dissociation in their daily lives is not well understood.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to describe the strategies adolescents use to manage dissociative symptoms from the perspective of adolescents themselves, their parents, and their clinicians.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 participants: 6 female adolescent patients (aged 14–17 years, <em>M</em> = 15.67) from an outpatient psychiatric service in Western Australia, 3 parents, and 4 clinicians. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings were consistent across adolescents, parents, and clinicians. Four main themes reflecting the varied strategies adolescents use to cope with dissociation were developed: <em>Coping Needs to be Right for Me</em> (theme 1); <em>Being with a Trusted Person Helps Me</em> (theme 2) with subthemes <em>Just be Here with Me</em> and <em>Be Here and Help Me Process My Feelings; Gradually Re-Engaging with the Present Moment Helps Me</em> (theme 3); and <em>Sometimes I Cope by Zoning Out Even More</em> (theme 4).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This is the first study to explore how adolescents cope with dissociation. All but one of the strategies were helpful in reducing dissociation duration or intensity, with some being within the adolescent’s control and some relying on trusted others to implement. Some coping strategies described by participants emphasized relational needs and developmental stage, suggesting that downward extension of adult interventions for adolescents may be inappropriate. Findings can guide the development of tailored interventions for dissociation in adolescents, ultimately improving clinical outcomes for this population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100600"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of traumatic perinatal events on caregivers – a cross-sectional study within a French type III maternity","authors":"Clothilde Riotte ,&nbsp;Stephanie Leclercq ,&nbsp;Francky Teddy Endomba ,&nbsp;Jean-Michel Pinoit ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Simon ,&nbsp;Jean-Christophe Chauvet-Gelinier","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100598","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100598","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The impact of exposure to traumatic perinatal events on maternity staff has been overlooked for too long. It is a critical occupational health issue not only for carers but also for their teams, patients, and close relatives.</div><div>Our cross-sectional study aimed to assess the impact of Traumatic Perinatal Events (TPEs) on the mental health of the carers working at the University Hospital of Dijon (a French type 3 maternity unit). Our online survey was sent to all the carers working at the maternity unit between March and May 2024. Participants were asked to complete the IES-R (Impact of Event Scale-Revised), the CBI (Compassion Satisfaction Inventory) patient-related subscale, and the PTGI-SF (Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory-Short Form) to estimate the respective prevalence of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), burnout, and post-traumatic growth. Participants were also asked to identify the different potentially traumatic perinatal events they had encountered and report the level of distress they had experienced.</div><div>The participation rate in this study was 24 %. Most of our sample is made up of midwives, physicians, and neonatal nursing assistants. Among respondents, 26.7 % met the criteria for probable PTSD, and 7 % for partial symptoms. Scores compatible with moderate patient-related burnout were found in 32.2 % of subjects, while scores suggestive of severe patient-related burnout were attained by 10.2 % of respondents. Results indicative of post-traumatic growth were observed in 63.2 % of participants. Finally, the staff seemed to be exposed to several potentially highly traumatic perinatal events in the delivery room (e.g., maternal or perinatal death or severe injury to the baby) and outside (e.g., criticism during M&amp;Ms, official patient complaint, performance evaluation by superiors, or mention in a medico-legal claim).</div><div>Our results highlight the need to seriously address the mental health issues related to occupational trauma exposure, possibly through a prevention programme.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100598"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324340","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interplay between complex trauma, dialectical core schemas and emotional processing difficulties","authors":"David Casanovas ,&nbsp;Bruno Faustino","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explored the relationships between complex trauma, dialectical core schemas and emotional processing difficulties in a non-clinical sample. Drawing from schema theory and emotion-focused models, we examined how complex trauma contributes to the development of maladaptive self and other-representations and their impact on emotional functioning. A total of 185 participants (Mage = 35.16, SD = 12.10) completed validated self-report measures assessing trauma exposure, core schemas, emotional processing, and psychological symptomatology. Correlation analyses revealed that complex trauma was significantly associated with maladaptive self-schemas and all dimensions of emotional processing difficulties. An hierarchical regression model showed that complex trauma and emotional processing difficulties, but not core schemas, significantly predicted psychological distress. Mediation analysis further indicated that complex trauma mediated the relationship between maladaptive self-schemas and emotional processing difficulties. These findings highlight the role of complex trauma in shaping maladaptive cognitive-emotional structures and impairing emotional processing, underscoring the need to target trauma and emotion regulation in therapeutic interventions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100599"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mental health and psychological well-being of incarcerated individuals: A narrative review","authors":"Kalliopi Megari ,&nbsp;Eleana Argyriadou","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Correctional psychology and public health have been increasingly concerned with the mental health and psychological well-being of those who are incarcerated. Numerous psychological stressors, such as loneliness, loss of autonomy, exposure to violence, and disconnection from social support networks, are linked to incarceration. These pressures have a major role in the high rates of mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders that are found in prison populations. This narrative review summarizes the body of research on the mental health issues that prisoners encounter, looking at both institutional and individual factors that affect psychological outcomes while incarcerated. It also looks at how the prison environment, coping mechanisms, and emotional control affect the wellbeing of convicts. Particular focus is placed on how mental illness intersects with pre-incarceration trauma, gender, and race. The evaluation also identifies crucial gaps in care as well as effective methods in the present mental health services provided in correctional settings. The results highlight the necessity of thorough, trauma-informed mental health treatments that go beyond symptom relief to attend to the more extensive social and emotional requirements of those who are incarcerated. Enhancing mental health services in prisons helps inmates' psychological health and aids in their effective rehabilitation and reintegration into society after release. In order to build compassionate and encouraging prison settings, this review highlights the significance of staff training, policy changes, and ongoing research. It also argues for a systemic change in the way mental health is emphasized within correctional facilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100606"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145361621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of the traumatic stress relief training program (GIST-T TSR) for paraprofessionals and allied mental health professionals in Burkina Faso: A series of case studies","authors":"Adeline Pupat ,&nbsp;Dodo Ilunga Diemu ,&nbsp;Harouna Yacoubou ,&nbsp;Valérie Chanfreau ,&nbsp;Susanne Young","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100607","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Background&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Despite the existence of effective, evidence-based therapies, the shortage of mental health professionals limits the possibility of reaching those in need of help. A solution to meet this demand is to train para- and allied professionals and scale up trauma treatment interventions that are based on task-shifting principles. The Traumatic Stress Relief (TSR) program, developed by the Global Initiative for Stress and Trauma Treatment (GIST-T) has been developed to provide an effective, safe, and early intervention for traumatic stress reduction in humanitarian settings. This study aims to explore the acceptability and feasibility of both the training of staff and treatment program with internal refugees and members of the host community, as well as with trained healthcare workers in northern Burkina Faso.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Method&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;17 mental health workers, nurses, and midwives attended a TSR training course, upskilling the participants to use psychoeducation, evidence-based stabilization techniques, grounding, and the Frontline Worksheet Protocol (F-WSP). Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the training content and a follow-up of the implementation in the field were conducted and monitored over 3 months. Then 92 users of the Ministry of Health structures supported by ALIMA NGO participated voluntarily in the F-WSP intervention, including 3 F-WSP sessions provided by the trained staff. Their levels of traumatic stress and of resilience were assessed with respectively the ITQ and the BRS, before, after one week, and at follow-up after one month. Demographic data were captured and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were performed to compare pre- and post-TSR intervention outcomes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Results&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;Acceptability and feasibility of both the training and the intervention were good. Participants appreciated the cultural adaptations made, such as the metaphors used for stress and relaxation. Psychoeducation was rated as a necessary and helpful step in stabilization and acceptability. Grounding and stabilization techniques were well received by participants. The 92 participants of the F-WSP intervention reported a significant reduction in levels of traumatic stress (&lt;em&gt;Z&lt;/em&gt; = 3726,5; &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; .0001; Cohen’s &lt;em&gt;d&lt;/em&gt; = 2973), including symptoms associated with complex trauma (&lt;em&gt;Z&lt;/em&gt; = 3583; &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.0001; Cohen’s &lt;em&gt;d&lt;/em&gt; = 2,90), as well as increased levels of resilience (&lt;em&gt;Z&lt;/em&gt; = 783.5; &lt;em&gt;p&lt;/em&gt; &lt; 0.001; &lt;em&gt;Cohen’s d&lt;/em&gt; = -1,34) after one week, with scores continuing to improve after one month. These preliminary results are only exploratory as there was no comparison group.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;h3&gt;Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;&lt;div&gt;The results are promising and suggest that TSR is a feasible and acceptable program that could add to the existing MHPSS tools in treating persons reporting with high levels of traumatic stress in Burkina Faso and similar settings. Future comparative s","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100607"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145362265","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The trauma and dissociative symptoms interview (TADS-I): Results of a pilot study","authors":"Suzette Antoinette Boon-Langelaan ,&nbsp;Matteo Cavalletti ,&nbsp;Maria Paola Boldrini ,&nbsp;Marjolein Runhaar","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study was conducted to obtain a first impression of the reliability and validity of the Trauma and Dissociation Symptoms Interview (TADS-I, Boon, 2023; Boon &amp; Matthess, 2016).</div><div><strong>Method</strong>: The TADS-I is a new clinician-administered semi-structured interview to assess dissociative and other trauma-related symptoms and DSM-5 and ICD-11 dissociative disorders (DD).</div><div>Fifty-three participants, all outpatients, were interviewed with TADS-I, 37 by the first author and 16 by a second interviewer (fourth author, a psychologist trained in administering the TADS-I). Self-report questionnaires (DES, SDQ-20, and TEC) were given to patients to complete at home prior to TADS-I administration.</div><div>Inter-rater reliability for the absence or presence of a DD and the type of DD was assessed for a subsample of 21 interviews independently rated by the two interviewers.</div><div><strong>Results</strong>: Inter-rater reliability In this subsample of 21 participants there was a 95 % agreement on the absence or presence of a dissociative disorder. Four met the criteria for DID (100 % agreement), three for depersonalization/ derealization disorder (100 % agreement), and one for OSDD. Raters differed with respect to one participant who was given PTSD dissociative subtype by one and OSDD by the other. There was also 100 % agreement on the absence of a DD (DID) in 6 participants (or their therapists) who believed they had DID.</div><div>In the TADS-I section on trauma-related symptoms we found sclear association (<em>p</em>&lt;.05) for the DD group among trauma-related symptoms, symptoms indicating a division of the personality, and alterations of consciousness.</div><div><strong>Conclusions</strong>: In this pilot study, TADS-I was able to reliably differentiate DD patients from patients without a DD. DD patients differed significantly from non-DD in severity on all symptom profiles, also on the severity of trauma-related symptoms and alterations of consciousness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100611"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145576290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dari version of the childhood Trauma questionnaire-short form (CTQ-SF) in a sample of Afghan students","authors":"Sajjad Saadat (Ph.D.) ,&nbsp;Anna Bjärtå (Ph.D.) ,&nbsp;Basir Ahmad Azizi (MSc) ,&nbsp;Jasmine Hamad (MSc) ,&nbsp;Wahidh Talbian (MSc) ,&nbsp;Mohammad Sajjad Afsharzada (Ph.D.)","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF) is a widely used and standardized questionnaire designed to assess five types of childhood abuse. The CTQ-SF demonstrates good validity and reliability. The aim of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of a Dari-translated version of the CTQ-SF.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>A convenience sample of 240 undergraduate Dari-speaking students at Herat University, Afghanistan, completed an online survey that included the CTQ-SF and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). To calculate test-retest reliability, a sub-sample of 44 individuals completed the CTQ-SF again within two weeks.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results from a confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the five-factor structure of the CTQ-SF demonstrated acceptable fit to the data (<em>χ²</em>/df = 1.98, CFI = .90, RMSEA = .06). Furthermore, CTQ-SF showed a moderate positive association with depression, anxiety, and stress (<em>r</em>(238) = .43 - 0.49, <em>p</em> &lt; .05), a strong test-retest reliability, (<em>r</em>(42) = .74, <em>p</em> &lt; .05), and excellent internal consistency (<em>α</em> = .92).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The results support the five-factor structure of the CTQ-SF and, together with strong psychometric properties, suggest that the Dari version is reliable for assessing childhood maltreatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100605"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145324338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Depersonalization/derealization disorder: A comprehensive theoretical formulation","authors":"Jürgen Schäfer","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100597","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100597","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Depersonalization/derealization disorder is a dissociative disorder characterized by persistent unreality experiences and intact reality testing. It is presented as a primary disorder or conceptualized as a secondary disorder associated with another psychopathology, in which such secondary disorder supposes to be the main promoting factor in the condition. Dissociative disorders are understood broadly as posttraumatic phenomena, although literature reports have demonstrated certain difficulties in both treatment and accurate diagnosis especially concerning depersonalization/derealization. The present theoretical paper aims to present previous research data and a summarized theoretical corpus on trauma-related dissociation to characterize the phenomenon from a psychotraumatology standpoint, and elaborate an explanatory hypothesis on its mechanism, pointing to etiology, differential diagnosis, and adequate management issues based on historical and empirical research to date. As an attainable emotional reaction, the chronic egodystonic presentation requires a formal explanation in conformity with the theory of structural dissociation. Depersonalization/derealization disorder, as a dissociative disorder, although mostly would be precipitated by accumulative trauma, could be understood not always solely on that explanation, but as a multifactorial phenomenon in some cases. Nonetheless, an explanation centered in the disorder acquisition as a type of posttraumatic reaction will be emphasized, involving personality development and developmental psychopathology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100597"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Frozen in trauma, anchored in survival: A study of dissociative states in post-sexual assault survivors","authors":"Rajat Mitra ,&nbsp;Pankaj Singh ,&nbsp;Nidhi Mitra","doi":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research considers the psychological fragmentation of sexual assault survivors from the framework of structural dissociation (Van der Hart et al., 2006) by exploring the way trauma manifest in the survivors post sexual assault. This study engaged 31 sexual assault survivors (aged 18–30) across six Indian states, employing trauma informed practices to conduct in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, revealing survivors' post-sexual assault experiences, with a focus on dissociation. The findings identified two dissociative states in the survivors—felt state (14 subthemes) and being state (10 subthemes). The Felt state consists of the survivors’ efforts to restore order and normality by using adaptive coping mechanisms; and the Being state as a process of frozen traumatic memories, somatically stored distress, and chronic perceptions of irreversible harm. The findings, based on qualitative analytical approach, show how cultural stories—such as the female chastity, culture, and honour (izzat) determine the reaction to trauma in Indian women. Clinically, the findings support phase-based interventions that initially establish stabilization through felt state coping strategies before targeting being state trauma. The research indicates the need for culturally sensitive trauma models that target both the psychological mediation of dissociation and oppressive social schemas. Further, the future research may examine the neurobiological underpinnings of dissociation subthemes and the development of culturally determined assessment tools. In combining survivor testimonies with theoretical frameworks, the study contributes to research on trauma in regions of the world where gender, caste, and mythical narratives intersect sexual violence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29932,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Trauma & Dissociation","volume":"9 4","pages":"Article 100612"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145519751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}