The relationship between childhood interpersonal trauma and somatisation in adulthood : the role of alexithymia and dissociation

• Main Author: O'Neill, Debra Jane
• Published: University of Edinburgh 2007
• Subjects: 155
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.660274

The aims of the current study were to investigate the associations between childhood interpersonal trauma (CIT) and somatisation, and also to examine the potential meditative effects of alexithymia and dissociation on the relationships between CIT and somatisation. The study aimed to construct a path model to explore the relationships between the variables of childhood abuse, parental style, alexithymia, dissociation and somatisation. The participants were adults who were attending primary care psychology services in the local area. Participants were asked to complete six self-report questionnaires including the Child Abuse & Trauma scale (CAT), the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-III), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the somatisation subscale of the Revised Symptom Checklist -90 (SCL-90-R) and a demographic questionnaire. Correlation analyses revealed significant associations between all forms of abuse and somatisation with the exception of sexual abuse. Punishment (physical abuse) was found to have the strongest association with somatisation, while parental style was not related to somatisation. Alexithymia did not emerge as a potential mediator in the relationship between abuse and somatisation, but amnestic dissociation (AD) did. Further analysis, however, revealed that AD failed to meet the criteria of a mediator in the relationship between punishment and somatisation. The findings are supportive of an association between childhood abuse, specifically punishment and somatisation in adulthood. The variables under investigation for potential meditative effects failed to meet the required criteria. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance for clinical practice and future research. The limitations of the current study are described, including the considerable restrictions placed on the statistical analysis as a result of the small sample size.