Does dissociation offer a useful explanation for psychopathology?

BACKGROUND

Dissociation is often conceptualised as an altered state of consciousness, a trance-like state in which normal barriers between conscious and unconscious memories, desires and beliefs break down and other amnestic barriers emerge. This review explores whether it is likely that there is a neurophysiology of pathological dissociative processes that will elucidate management.

METHOD: A critical reading of current research, sourced through Medline and Psychinfo searches from 1990 to 2002, using subject headings: dissociative disorders, hypnosis and stress disorder (post-traumatic), as well as keywords: dissociation, hypnosis and trance.

RESULTS

Current knowledge does not support the notion of dissociation as a discrete brain state or process.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychiatric and neurophysiological research and theory development are better directed towards individual components that contribute to dissociative experience.