Dissociation, Trauma and Self-Harm

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Abstract

The presented analytical preview considers the main approaches to the relationship between dissociation, trauma and self-harm. This relationship is functionally complex and depends on many variables. In regards to trauma dissociation and self-harm are (1) defense mechanisms, activating to traumatic cues; (2) destructive pathological self-regulatory modes. Meantime functional links between dissociation and self-harm reveal two tendencies: anti-dissociation (regaining control) and dissociation-inducing (rejecting one’s feelings). Dissociation is widely considered a mediator between trauma and self-harm. At the same time psychological mechanisms, such as emotion regulation and body rejection, exert significant influence on pathological post-traumatic development. We discuss the psychopathological aspects of the links between trauma, dissociation and self-harm in borderline personality and eating disorders. We also take note of the gender- and age-related peculiarities of these issues.

General Information

Keywords: dissociation, trauma, self-harm, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, emotion dysregulation, body rejection

Journal rubric: Research Reviews

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/cpp.2020280103

Funding. This paper was prepared with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), project № 19-113-50577.

For citation: Polskaya N.A., Melnikova M.A. Dissociation, Trauma and Self-Harm. Konsul'tativnaya psikhologiya i psikhoterapiya = Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy, 2020. Vol. 28, no. 1, pp. 25–48. DOI: 10.17759/cpp.2020280103.

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Information About the Authors

Natalia A. Polskaya, Doctor of Psychology, Associate Professor, Professor of the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Department, Faculty of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Leading Researcher, Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health of Children and Adolescents named after G.E. Sukhareva of the Moscow Department of Public Health, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7305-5577, e-mail: polskayana@yandex.ru

Mariya A. Melnikova, post-graduate student of the Councelling and Clinical Psychology Department, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2729-9877, e-mail: melnikova-ma@mail.ru

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