Dissociative experiences in the general population in the Netherlands and Belgium: a study with the Dissociative Questionaire (DIS-Q)

p. 180-184This article describes the results of the first European study on the prevalence of dissociative experiences in the general population of Belgium (Flanders) and the Netherlands. Dissociative experiences were assessed with a new self-reporting dissociation questionnaire (DIS-Q). The DIS-Q has been administered to a representative sample of the Dutch and Flemish population (N=374). The results show that dissociative experiences are quite common in the general population, and that their frequency is declining with age. About 3 percent of the population (the majority men) reports serious dissociative phenomena, and 1 percent shows scores as high as patients with multiple personality disorder. These findings suggest that dissociative disorders are seriously under-diagnosed by mental health professionals

The German version of the Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale (ABOS)

Objective: To assess the performance of the German version of the Anorectic Behavior Observation Scale (ABOS) as a parent-report screening instrument for eating disorders (ED) in their children. Methods: Parents of 101 ED female patients (80 with Anorexia Nervosa; 21 with Bulimia Nervosa) and of 121 age- and socioeconomic status (SES)-matched female controls completed the ABOS. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original three-factor structure model of the ABOS. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients indicated good internal consistency for the three factors and the total score in the total sample. The best cut-off point (100% sensitivity and specificity) in the German version was ≥23. Conclusion: The ABOS may be a useful additional instrument for assessing ED

Is there a link between traumatic experiences and self-injurious behaviours in eating-disordered patients?

To find out more about the relationship between the presence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) and a history of traumatic experiences, we studied this link in 70 patients with an eating disorder (ED). The sample showed a high frequency of SIB (38.6%), particularly in patients with bulimia nervosa. We also found high percentages of self-reported experiences of physical (32.3%) and sexual abuse (47.7%). The presence of SIB turned out to be associated with a history of physical and/or sexual abuse. Patients who had suffered interpersonal abuse before the age of 15 were more likely to develop self-destructive behaviors. In line with other investigations, we found that high levels of dissociation and self-criticism differentiated sexually abused ED patients with SIB from those without SIB. We discuss some clinical implications of our findings, with suggestions for treatment.02status: publishe

Self-injurious behavior: differential diagnosis and functional differentiation

Although often used as synonyms, "self-injury" and "self-harin" may refer to different behaviors with different meanings. Because the literature is quite confusing in this respect, we propose a more specific delineation of the notion of self-injurious behavior (SIB), differentiated from other self-harming behaviors. For this purpose, we present a flowchart for differential diagnosis. This brings us to the question: are we dealing here with a sign of pathology or a meaningful behavior? We compare the structuralist approach, in which SIB is viewed as either a syndrome or a symptom, with the functionalist approach, focusing on the psychosocial functions of SIB. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.status: publishe

Self-injury in female versus male psychiatric patients: A comparison of characteristics, psychopathology and aggression regulation

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is 1.5-3 times more likely in women than in men. However, there is minimal research on SIB in male populations. Therefore, we carried out a comparative study in 399 psychiatric inpatients (265 females and 134 males) by means of self-reporting questionnaires assessing SIB, psychopathological symptoms, personality disorders and aggression regulation. Compared to female patients with SIB (46.2%), males admitting SIB (31.3%) showed more burning, reported more pain experience, took less care of their wounds and concealed them less often; in males the SIB mainly served social-oriented functions (e.g., getting attention). Female SIB patients displayed more cutting, scored higher on agoraphobic and interpersonal sensitive complaints, and reported more often sexual abusive experiences. In both male and female patients SIB was linked to more clinical symptoms and personality disorders than in patients without SIB. In general, self-injury can be considered a sign of more severe psychopathology. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.status: publishe

Motivation to change in eating disorder patients: a conceptual clarification on the basis of self-determination theory

Centrum voor Motivatiepsychologie. Centrum voor Ontwikkelingspsychologie. Onderzoeksgroep Psychodiagnostiek en psychopathologie. Afdeling Psychotherapie en dieptepsychologie.status: publishe