Spontaneous dissociation during functional MRI experiments

• Published in: Journal of psychiatric research Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 69 - 73
• Main Authors: Michal, Matthias, Röder, Christian, Mayer, Jutta, Lengler, Ulrike, Krakow, Karsten
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Attention; Biological and medical sciences; Brain - physiopathology; Dissociation; Dissociative Disorders - diagnosis; Dissociative Disorders - etiology; Dissociative Disorders - physiopathology; Dissociative response; Female; fMRI; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - adverse effects; Male; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Panic Disorder - etiology; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Sensory Deprivation; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; fMRI; Sensory deprivation; Dissociation; Dissociative response; Attention; Dissociative disorder; Medical imagery; Cognition; Experimental study; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Functional imaging
• ISSN: 0022-3956; 1879-1379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2005.04.011

It is assumed that the procedures of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) are able to provoke significant dissociative responses. Trait and state dissociation of 32 healthy subjects undergoing fMRI have been recorded. At least one-third of the subjects showed dissociative responses of very large effect size ( d = 4.10). The contributing causal factors for that dissociative response could not yet identified clearly. Considering the impact of dissociation on mental functions, we recommend controlling subjects undergoing fMRI studies for dissociative responses. Further studies on the actual phenomenological experience of subjects undergoing fMRI procedures are warranted.