Trait and State Dissociation in the Prediction of Intrusive Images

The present study investigated the predictive power of trait dissociation on the development of intrusive images and the mediating role of peritraumatic state dissociation and horror in this relationship. An observational quasi-experimental design was used with an aversive film to model a traumatic experience. Participants (N = 99) were exposed to a 10-minute trauma film after completing the Dissociative Experiences Scale C. After the film participants completed the Dissociative States Subscale and indicated their subjective horror. Intrusive images of the film were recorded in the subsequent week using an intrusion diary Results showed that trait dissociation predicted intrusion frequency This effect disappeared after controlling for peritraumatic horror, suggesting that state horror could have mediated the trait dissociation intrusion relationship. State dissociation was associated with intrusion frequency in univariate, partial correlations but not in the final model including horror. The results underscore the importance of peritrauma emotions in the prediction of PTSD and as a possible explaining factor of the predictive power of dissociation.