Surviving Trauma: The Hidden Impact of Dissociative Symptoms

Trauma can trigger dissociative symptoms like out-of-body sensations or emotional numbness, which may temporarily help a person cope. However, if these symptoms persist for a long time, they can have detrimental effects.

Researchers at McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a part of Mass General Brigham, have led a team in a recent study. Consequently, they have made significant discoveries in the field.

The study was published in Neuropsychopharmacology.

The team identified brain networks that communicate with one another when people experience various kinds of dissociative symptoms.
Co-lead author Lauren A.M. Lebois, PhD, said, “Dissociation and severe disorders like dissociative identity disorder remain underappreciated and often misunderstood. Consequently, this highlights the need for greater awareness and understanding.”

She added, “At worst, these conditions frequently go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.”
“This misdiagnosis and stigmatization have come at a heavy cost; they have prolonged suffering, hindered research on dissociation, and prevented patients from getting adequate and effective treatment. Additionally, gender imbalance is a significant concern in this context because DID disproportionately affects women.”

Exploring Dissociative Symptoms: How Brain Networks Reveal Trauma’s Unique Impact on Thought and Emotion

In the study conducted by Lebois and her colleagues, 91 women with varying degrees of dissociative symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, and histories of childhood trauma were included. Subsequently, researchers performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan on participants to observe how their brains were working.

“Furthermore, the new techniques we employed to investigate brain connectivity are essential for comprehending the role these network disruptions play in dissociative disorders,” co-lead author Lisa D. Nickerson, PhD, who oversees McLean Hospital’s Applied Neuroimaging Statistics Lab, said.
Researchers linked distinct dissociation symptoms to specific brain regions controlling emotion and thought processes. Moreover, Lebois added, “We found that dissociation common to post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociation central to DID each have unique brain signatures.”

Understanding neural correlates of dissociation aims to correct misconceptions, reduce stigma, and address gender-related health inequities.

Advancing Disorder Research: Pioneering Brain Signatures and Potential New Treatments

Milissa Kaufman hopes this study boosts awareness of dissociative symptoms, thereby leading clinicians to provide timely, appropriate treatment.
Study authors suggest distinct brain signatures of dissociative symptoms could lead to the development of novel treatments. Additionally, McLean’s Kerry J. Ressler envisions targeting dissociation-related brain activity as a standalone treatment in future advancements. Ressler, MD, PhD.

Funding: NIMH grants and the Julia Kasparian Fund supported the study, aiding advancements in dissociative disorder research. However, the writers alone are responsible for the material, which does not necessarily reflect the National Institutes of Health’s official position.