Dissociative Experiences in China

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Dissociative Experiences Scale was administered to a non-clinical sample in Shanghai, China (N = 618) and the results were compared with a previous sample of the general population from Winnipeg, Canada (N = 1055). The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule was administered to the 618 Chinese participants and results were compared with those of the Canadian participants (N = 502). In addition, both measures were administered to a sample of Chinese psychiatric in-patients (N = 423) and outpatients (N = 304). Rates of childhood trauma and dissociation were far lower in the Chinese non-clinical sample than in the two Chinese psychiatric patient groups, and far lower than in the Canadian general population. Among the 618 respondents in the Chinese non-clinical sample, no childhood sexual abuse was reported and only one person reported childhood physical abuse. These rates of childhood abuse were far lower than in other non-clinical samples from China; for example, rates were 16.7% for sexual abuse of girls and 10.5% for sexual abuse of boys in a previous study. Among the more traumatized Chinese psychiatric patients, and among the Canadian respondents, dissociative experiences were much more common than in the Chinese general population. The data provide a base frequency for dissociation in non-clinical samples reporting little or no childhood physical and sexual abuse.