Dissociation among individuals receiving cancer care: a scoping review

Abstract

Problem identification Dissociation is a common presentation of trauma, distinguishable from classic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. While pre-cancer and cancer-related traumatic experiences are prevalent among cancer-affected individuals, the specific impact of traumatic dissociation is unclear. Literature search This scoping review includes a search of English articles published between 1980 and 2019 referencing dissociation in the context of cancer-affected adults. Data evaluation/synthesis Articles assessed how dissociation was addressed in relation to pre-cancer and cancer-related trauma exposure and treatment. Out of 1,265 articles, 71 met inclusion criteria, and 15 underwent a full review. Two studies addressed dissociation related to pre-cancer trauma, nine in regard to cancer-related trauma only, and four in relation to both trauma types. No studies included experimental designs or described interventions. Conclusions Despite high rates of trauma exposure among cancer-affected adults, limited studies specifically address the impact of dissociation. Further inquiry on this topic is needed, especially on treatment implications.