Logo image
The link between childhood trauma and dissociation in frequent users of classic psychedelics and dissociatives
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

The link between childhood trauma and dissociation in frequent users of classic psychedelics and dissociatives

S.B. Thal, J.K. Daniels and H. Jungaberle
Journal of Substance Use, Vol.24(5), pp.524-531
2019
pdf
childhood trauma.pdfDownloadView
Published (Version of Record) Open Access
url
Free to Read *No subscription requiredView

Abstract

Background: Childhood trauma severity is associated with the level of subsequent substance use as well as with the self-reported severity of dissociation. Classic psychedelics and dissociatives target neurotransmitter systems thought to be involved in the onset of dissociative symptoms and may evoke severe and long-lasting symptoms of depersonalization in some users. However, it is currently unclear whether drug use puts people with a history of childhood trauma at higher risk of developing dissociative symptoms. Objectives: The current study investigates whether the one-year prevalence of substance use significantly moderates the link between childhood trauma and the severity of depersonalization. Methods: Participants (n = 297, of which 80.2% were active users) filled out an online self-report questionnaire including the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), the Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS), and information about their substance use. Results: Results indicate that childhood trauma and substance use are significant individual predictors of dissociation scores in this sample, but no moderation of substance use on the link between childhood trauma and depersonalization was established. Conclusions: It is hypothesized that the quality (particularly the context) of the experience of substance use rather than the sheer quantity may be responsible for the manifestation of depersonalization.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

Source: InCites

Metrics

34 File views/ downloads
117 Record Views

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
International collaboration
Citation topics
6 Social Sciences
6.24 Psychiatry & Psychology
6.24.93 Trauma and PTSD
Web Of Science research areas
Substance Abuse
ESI research areas
Social Sciences, general
Logo image