Relations among peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress: a critical review.

This paper critically reviews the empirical literature addressing the relationship of peritraumatic dissociation to posttraumatic stress. PSYCHLIT and MEDLINE literature searches were conducted to identify relevant studies. The list of articles generated was supplemented by a review of their bibliographies, which resulted in a total of 53 empirical studies. These studies were classified according to the type of potentially traumatizing event investigated and discussed. In the majority of studies, evidence was found for a positive association between peritraumatic dissociation and posttraumatic stress. However, research in this area is limited by several methodological differences and shortcomings with respect to study design, sample characteristics, measurement instruments, and control for moderating or mediating variables. In addition, research is also limited by conceptual problems and the lack of specific time parameters for the occurrence of peritraumatic dissociation. The literature is evaluated according to these methodological differences or shortcomings, and directions for future research are provided.