Dissociation mediates association between childhood trauma and distress from trauma research participation: analysis of pooled clinical data

BackgroundChildhood trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are risk factors for emotional distress from trauma-related research participation. The role of dissociation, however, has not been investigated. This study examined the mediation effect of dissociation and PTSD on the relationship between childhood trauma and distress in trauma studies.MethodsPooled data of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Impact of Events Scale-Revised, Dissociative Experiences Scale-Taxon, and Trauma Antecedents Questionnaire from 231 psychiatric patients (73% diagnosed with psychotic illnesses) at a psychiatric clinic in South Korea were analysed. We performed multiple mediation effect analysis to verify a structural model for distress in trauma-related questionnaires.ResultsThirteen percent of participants reported distress after the survey. In the structural equation, the symptoms of PTSD did not show a significant relationship (p = .064). When the two parameters were included in the model, it was found that the direct effect of childhood trauma on distress was not significant (p = .43), but dissociation showed a direct effect on distress (p < .001).DiscussionChildhood trauma affects distress through the sequential mediating effect of PTSD symptoms and dissociation. Dissociation should be considered as a significant contributor to distress from trauma research participation along with childhood trauma and PTSD.