Exploring the relationship between dissociative experiences and recovery in psychosis: cross-sectional study

Aims and method: This study explored the association among dissociative experiences, recovery from psychosis and a range of factors relevant to psychosis and analysed whether dissociative experiences (compartmentalisation, detachment and absorption) could be used to predict specific stages of recovery. A cross-sectional design was used, and 75 individuals with psychosis were recruited from the recovery services of the Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. Five questionnaires were used - the Dissociative Experiences Scale - II (DES), Detachment and Compartmentalisation Inventory (DCI), Questionnaire about the Process of Recovery, Stages of Recovery Instrument (STORI), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale - and a proforma was used to collect demographic data. Results: Our findings indicated that compartmentalisation, detachment and absorption, as measured by DES and DCI, do not predict stages of recovery as measured by the STORI. Clinical implications: The results of this study suggest that there is no simple relationship between dissociative and psychotic symptoms. They also suggest a need to assess these symptoms separately in practice and indicate that special approaches to treatment of psychosis may be needed in cases where such symptoms have a significant role.

Citation

Calciu, C., Macpherson, R., Rees, K. J., Chen, S. Y., Ruxton, S., White, R., Almaskati, M., Hill, F., Vasilis-Peter, A., Desando, S., Pennell, O., Nasubuga, C., Webb, J., Walker, M., & Soponaru, C. (2025). Exploring the relationship between dissociative experiences and recovery in psychosis: cross-sectional study. BJPsych bulletin, 1–10. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2024.113

DOI

10.1192/bjb.2024.113

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14709/248

Usage rights

CC BY 4.0

License

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/