When trauma is repeated throughout childhood, dissociation often solidifies into an automatic defense mechanism. This chronic fragmentation hinders the person's ability to integrate memory, emotion, somatosensation, and motor control into a cohesive sense of self.


Trauma Over Time

Child develops an inability to have a unified sense of self due to early onset chronic child abuse by an attachment figure.


Arizona State University

Evidence suggests that childhood trauma and dissociation are associated with psychotic symptoms and disorders. Mistreated children are diagnosed more frequently with dissociative disorders than those who haven't experienced trauma. When a mistreated child develops a dissociative disorder, the symptoms tend to be more severe. This demonstrates the importance of testing for dissociative disorders in those with suspected childhood trauma, and considering dissociative disorders when treating victims of childhood maltreatment. 

Link Between Childhood Trauma and Dissociative Disorder Development

Şar, V., Dorahy, M. J., & Krüger, C. (2017). Revisiting the etiological aspects of dissociative identity disorder: a biopsychosocial perspective. Psychology research and behavior management, 10, 137–146. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S113743

Revisiting the etiological aspects of dissociative identity disorder: a biopsychosocial perspective

1. Hearing, seeing, tasting or believing things that others don’t
2. Persistent, unusual thoughts or beliefs that can’t be set aside regardless of what 
   others believe
3. Strong and inappropriate emotions or no emotions at all
4. Withdrawing from family or friends
5. A sudden decline in self-care
 6. Trouble thinking clearly or concentrating

Symptoms of First Episode Psychosis

Developmental  Traumatization

Boyer, S. M., Caplan, J. E., & Edwards, L. K. (2022). Trauma-Related Dissociation and the Dissociative Disorders:: Neglected Symptoms with Severe Public Health Consequences. Delaware journal of public health, 8(2), 78–84. https://doi.org/10.32481/djph.2022.05.010


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