Dissociative Symptoms in Schizophrenia and Their Relationship with Traumatic Experiences

The aim of the study was to assess the severity of dissociative disorders in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and their relationship to schizophrenia symptoms. The role of trauma in the relationship between these symptoms was also analyzed. It was also investigated whether dissociative fragmentation is a separate phenomenon from detachment in schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. The study group comprised 63 individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (ICD-11), without organic disorders or addiction diagnoses, receiving treatment in Krakow health centers. The Polish versions of the following instruments were used: Positive and negative syndrome Scale (PANNS), Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE - III), The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-14), Traumatic Experiences Checklist (TEC), Dissociative Experiences Scale Revised (DES-R), The Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20), Detachment and Compartmentalization Inventory (DCI) and Dissociative Symptoms Scale (DSS). Altogether 33.3% of the participants were identified as having elevated dissociative symptoms. They differed significantly from low scorers in severity of positive symptoms, mindfulness and experienced traumas. The severity of fragmentation and detachment symptoms correlated strongly. Numerous moderate positive correlations were found between dissociation symptoms and anxiety and depression symptoms, number of traumas experienced, psychopathological symptoms, and stronger negative correlations with mindfulness. A significant mediation effect of dissociation symptoms was found between traumatic experiences and psychopathological symptoms. Among people with schizophrenia, there is a subgroup with pronounced dissociative disorders and they are connected with traumatic experiences they had. Mindfulness should be researched in terms of its potential benefits in treatment of this group.