Dissociation and adolescent psychopathology

Farrington, Alice (2000) Dissociation and adolescent psychopathology. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

The majority of research on dissociation focuses on adulthood, although adolescence is thought to be a transitional time in the development of dissociation. This dissertation consists of two papers, both of which emphasize the importance of investigating dissociation during adolescence.

A literature review of dissociation in adolescence was carried out. Recent conceptualizations of dissociation were firstly evaluated, followed by a review of studies investigating the developmental course of dissociation. The relationship between normal adolescent processes and dissociation was explored and the evidence for a relationship between dissociation and adolescent psychopathology was examined. Subsequently, the empirical evidence and theoretical basis for childhood trauma and disorganized attachment leading to dissociation were evaluated. It was argued that the developmental tasks of adolescence may provoke pathological dissociation in vulnerable young people. Finally, the clinical and research implications of a greater understanding of dissociation in adolescence were outlined.

The research paper investigated the psychometric properties of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale and changes in the frequency of dissociative experiences during adolescence, as well as exploring the relationship between dissociation and psychological symptomatology in adolescence, particularly in females with anorexia. Dissociation was highly correlated with psychological symptomatology in non-clinical, mixed clinical and anorexic adolescent females and appeared to relate in a specific way to symptomatology in anorexia. The clinical and research implications of these findings were discussed.

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