Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms
Dissociative symptoms may result from both neurobiological conditions, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and traumatic events/exposure, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). However, identifying whether dissociative manifestati...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/850 |
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| author | Rosario Esposito Eduardo Maria Schettino Veronica Buonincontri Carmine Vitale Gabriella Santangelo Gianpaolo Maggi |
| author_facet | Rosario Esposito Eduardo Maria Schettino Veronica Buonincontri Carmine Vitale Gabriella Santangelo Gianpaolo Maggi |
| author_sort | Rosario Esposito |
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| description | Dissociative symptoms may result from both neurobiological conditions, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and traumatic events/exposure, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). However, identifying whether dissociative manifestations are associated with ADHD symptoms or trauma-related manifestations may drive clinicians to select the most effective intervention. Four hundred participants from the general population completed an online survey and were classified based on the presence of PTSD, ACEs, or ADHD symptoms. We compared the severity of dissociation and its dimensions across groups using the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) and explored its association with ADHD symptoms, PTSD manifestations, and ACEs. Dissociative symptoms were more pronounced in individuals with combined ADHD and PTSD or ACEs, but a hierarchical pattern of dissociation severity was also observed in isolated symptoms: ADHD > PTSD > ACEs. More specifically, participants who reported ADHD symptoms obtained higher scores on the Amnesia dimension of the DES-II than PTSD and more severe Absorption subscores than individuals reporting ACEs. Correlational analyses confirmed that DES-II scores were mostly associated with the scale evaluating the severity of ADHD symptoms rather than those evaluating trauma-related manifestations. These findings suggest that neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities, such as ADHD, may play a more significant role in dissociative symptomatology than trauma-related disorders. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-31bbc9778dea468a9d6cf7c3cc9547f4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-31bbc9778dea468a9d6cf7c3cc9547f42025-08-20T03:58:25ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-06-0115785010.3390/bs15070850Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder SymptomsRosario Esposito0Eduardo Maria Schettino1Veronica Buonincontri2Carmine Vitale3Gabriella Santangelo4Gianpaolo Maggi5Department of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalySchool of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), 80122 Naples, ItalySanta Maria del Pozzo Hospital, 80049 Somma Vesuviana, ItalyDepartment of Medical, Motor and Wellbeing Sciences, University of Naples Parthenope, 80133 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, ItalyDissociative symptoms may result from both neurobiological conditions, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and traumatic events/exposure, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). However, identifying whether dissociative manifestations are associated with ADHD symptoms or trauma-related manifestations may drive clinicians to select the most effective intervention. Four hundred participants from the general population completed an online survey and were classified based on the presence of PTSD, ACEs, or ADHD symptoms. We compared the severity of dissociation and its dimensions across groups using the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) and explored its association with ADHD symptoms, PTSD manifestations, and ACEs. Dissociative symptoms were more pronounced in individuals with combined ADHD and PTSD or ACEs, but a hierarchical pattern of dissociation severity was also observed in isolated symptoms: ADHD > PTSD > ACEs. More specifically, participants who reported ADHD symptoms obtained higher scores on the Amnesia dimension of the DES-II than PTSD and more severe Absorption subscores than individuals reporting ACEs. Correlational analyses confirmed that DES-II scores were mostly associated with the scale evaluating the severity of ADHD symptoms rather than those evaluating trauma-related manifestations. These findings suggest that neurodevelopmental vulnerabilities, such as ADHD, may play a more significant role in dissociative symptomatology than trauma-related disorders.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/850dissociationAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)traumaPost-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)adverse childhood experiencesdissociative experience scale |
| spellingShingle | Rosario Esposito Eduardo Maria Schettino Veronica Buonincontri Carmine Vitale Gabriella Santangelo Gianpaolo Maggi Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms Behavioral Sciences dissociation Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) trauma Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) adverse childhood experiences dissociative experience scale |
| title | Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms |
| title_full | Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms |
| title_fullStr | Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms |
| title_short | Exploring Differential Patterns of Dissociation: Severity and Dimensions Across Diverse Trauma Experiences and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms |
| title_sort | exploring differential patterns of dissociation severity and dimensions across diverse trauma experiences and or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder symptoms |
| topic | dissociation Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) trauma Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) adverse childhood experiences dissociative experience scale |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/7/850 |
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