Mapping the Origins of Dissociative (Conversion) Disorder: Childhood Trauma, Attachment Styles, and Locus of Control in North Indian Sample: A Correlational Study

Background: Dissociative (conversion) disorder (DCD) is a mental health disorder which entails a complex interplay between the conflicts in the mind and the body. This involves a partial or complete loss of usual integration between an individual’s memory, identity, and sensory‐motor dimensions. Aims and Objectives: The current study aims at understanding the relationship between DCD and childhood trauma, locus of control (LOC), and attachment styles. The study employs a quantitative paradigm with a cross‐sectional correlation design. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 participants who were diagnosed with DCD were taken for the study. The process of data collection entailed administration of the rating scales for dissociative experiences, childhood trauma, adult attachment style, and LOC were administered. Followed by this, descriptive and a correlational analysis was performed on the data. Results: Results revealed findings which were significant, highlighting positive moderate correlations between the levels of dissociation and emotional neglect, physical neglect, and sexual abuse, whereas low positive correlations with emotional abuse and physical abuse. With respect to the attachment styles, a moderate positive relation of dissociative experiences was found with the anxious attachment style. The study highlighted some significant findings pertaining to LOC and dissociation levels, uncovering a low negative correlation. Conclusion: This study thus gives a window into a deeper understanding of DCD by examining its relationship with childhood trauma, attachment styles and LOC in the North Indian context, thereby bringing focus over understanding the manifestations of early life experiences and intra‐ and interpersonal relational patterns which remains underexplored.