Unveiling the Brain: New Study Links Dissociative Disorders to Unique Neural Networks

Dissociative symptoms, like out-of-body sensations or emotional numbness, can be linked to trauma and unique neural networks, potentially aiding or harming long-term coping.

Researchers at McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School and part of Mass General Brigham, led a recent study 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, director of the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program, said, “Dissociation and severe dissociative disorders like dissociative identity disorder or ‘DID’ remain, at best, underappreciated and, at worst, frequently go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, despite new insights into Unique Neural Networks.”

“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 Unique Neural Networks: How New Insights Into Brain Connectivity Illuminate Dissociation and Gender Disparities

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

“The new techniques we employed to investigate brain connectivity are essential for comprehending the part these network disruptions play in dissociative disorders,” co-lead author Lisa D. Nickerson, PhD, who oversees the McLean Hospital’s Applied Neuroimaging Statistics Lab, said. Furthermore, these techniques provide crucial insights into the neural mechanisms underlying dissociative symptoms.

The researchers discovered that specific regions in brain networks controlling emotions and thoughts were connected to distinct dissociation symptoms.

“We found that unique brain signatures link dissociation common to post-traumatic stress disorder and dissociation central to DID,” Lebois said.

These findings highlight the distinct brain signatures associated with different types of dissociation, offering new insights into their neural underpinnings.

The research believes that a deeper understanding of the neural correlates of dissociation can help correct historical misconceptions about DID. Moreover, this insight could contribute to more accurate diagnoses and effective treatments.

By clarifying these neural connections, the study aims to de-stigmatize dissociation and its impact on mental health.

Additionally, this work hopes to reduce gender-related health inequities, offering a more equitable approach to treatment and understanding.

From Awareness to Innovation: How New Brain Signatures Could Revolutionize Treatment for Dissociative Disorders

Co-senior author Milissa Kaufman, MD, PhD, hopes this research increases awareness of dissociative symptoms and improves diagnostic accuracy.

Ultimately, clinicians will be more likely to assess for and consider these symptoms. This could lead to more timely and appropriate treatment for patients.

Addressing dissociative symptoms with greater awareness can improve diagnostic accuracy and patient care, advancing treatment options significantly.”

It is noteworthy that, according to the study’s authors, distinct brain signatures of dissociative symptoms may point to new treatments.

“In the future, we could target brain activity related to dissociation as a standalone treatment,” says Kerry J.Ressler.

McLean Chief Scientific Officer and co-author Kerry J. Ressler, MD, PhD, emphasizes the potential for novel treatment developments. Consequently, these insights could lead to targeted therapies addressing the specific brain activity associated with dissociation.

Funding came from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Julia Kasparian Fund for Neuroscience Research. However, the writers alone are responsible for the material, which does not necessarily reflect the National Institutes of Health’s official position.