Phenomenology of dissociative symptoms: A comparison between individuals with dissociative disorders and high and low dissociative schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Schizophrenia research. Cognition June 1, 2025 V E De Vries, R J C Huntjens, B E Sportel et al. 1 citation
The presumed clear-cut distinction between dissociative disorders (DDs) and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs) is not supported by symptom-level evidence. Comparing 27 DD patients and 51 SSD patients, the DD group reported higher levels of every type of dissociative symptom. Symptoms such as self-states alters, discontinuities of time, flashbacks, voices, and depersonalization best distinguished the groups. However, when the DD group was compared with a subgroup of 12 SSD patients who reported many dissociative experiences, these differences disappeared, leaving only differences on validity scales (rare symptoms, attention seeking, factitious behavior). No dissociative or psychotic symptom is specific to either disorder, suggesting caution in classifying based on symptoms alone and supporting a transdiagnostic approach to assessment and treatment.