Latent profile analysis and principal axis factoring of the DSM-5 dissociative subtype

Abstract

Objective: A dissociative subtype has been recognized based on the presence of experiencesofdepersonalization and derealization in relation to DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the dissociative subtype has notbeen assessedinacommunity sampleinrelation tothe revised DSM-5 PTSD criteria. Moreover, the 20-item PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) currently does not assess depersonalization and derealization. Method: We therefore evaluated two items for assessing depersonalization and derealization in 557 participants recruited online who endorsed PTSD symptoms of at least moderate severity on the PCL-5. Results: A five-class solution identified two PTSD classes who endorsed dissociative experiences associatedwith either 1) severe or 2) moderate PTSD symptom severity (D-PTSD classes). Those in the severe dissociative class were particularly likely to endorse histories of childhood physical and sexual abuse. A principal axis factor analysis of the symptom list identified six latent variables: 1) Reexperiencing, 2) Emotional Numbing/ Anhedonia, 3) Dissociation, 4) Negative Alterations in Cognition & Mood, 5) Avoidance, and 6) Hyperarousal. Conclusions: The present results further support the presence of a dissociative subtype within the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.