THE IMPACT OF FAMILY STRUCTURE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN DISSOCIATIVE CONVULSIONS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Dissociative Convulsions, Family Structure, Psychological Distress, Alexithymia, Emotion Regulation
Abstract
Dissociative Convulsions (DC), also known as Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures (PNES), are episodes resembling epileptic seizures but without abnormal brain activity. This study investigates the relationship between family structure and psychological distress in patients with DC in the Indian context. A cross-sectional design was used to compare psychological outcomes between 72 patients from joint and nuclear families. Standardized measures, including the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II), Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18), were administered. Statistical analyses involved independent t-tests and Pearson's correlations. Patients from joint families exhibited significantly higher psychological distress, including greater dissociative experiences, cognitive distortions, alexithymia, and emotion regulation difficulties (all p-values < 0.001). These findings highlight the critical role of family dynamics in psychological interventions for DC and underscore the need for culturally sensitive, family-focused treatment approaches.
References
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2. Reuber M, Elger CE. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: review and update. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Feb;5(1):13–24.
3. Kumar R, Singh S. Family dynamics and mental health: a study in the Indian context. Indian J Psychiatry. 2021 Mar–Apr;63(2):101–109.
4. Chaturvedi SK. Family structure in India. J Comp Fam Stud. 2010;41(4):515–525.
5. Smith JA. Family systems theory and its application in psychotherapy. J Fam Ther. 2018 Feb;40(1):22–36.
6. Şar V, Akyüz G, Doğan O. Prevalence of dissociative disorders among women in the general population. Psychiatry Res. 2007 Feb 28;149(1–3):169–176.
7. Tabassum K, Farooq S. Sociodemographic features, affective symptoms, and family functioning in hospitalized patients with dissociative disorder (convulsion type). J Pak Med Assoc. 2007 Jan;57(1):23–26.
8. Kirmayer LJ, Sartorius N. Cultural models and somatic syndromes. Psychosom Med. 2007 Nov–Dec;69(9):832–840.
9. World Health Organization. The ICD-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Clinical Descriptions and Diagnostic Guidelines. Geneva: WHO; 1992.
10. Reuber M, Elger CE. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: review and update. Epilepsy Behav. 2004 Feb;5(1):13–24.
11. Bernstein EM, Putnam FW. Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1986 Dec;174(12):727–735.
12. de Oliveira IR. Trial-Based Cognitive Therapy: A Step-by-Step Manual. New York: Springer; 2015.
13. Taylor GJ, Bagby RM, Parker JD. Disorders of Affect Regulation: Alexithymia in Medical and Psychiatric Illness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1997.
14. Victor SE, Klonsky ED. Validation of a brief version of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS-18) in five samples. J Psychopathol Behav Assess. 2016 Dec;38(4):582–589.
15. Beck AT. Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders. New York: Penguin Books; 1979.
16. Powers A, Cross D, Fani N, Bradley B. PTSD, emotion dysregulation, and dissociative symptoms in a highly traumatized sample. J Psychiatr Res. 2015 Mar;61:174–179.
17. Modestin J, Ebner G, Junghan M, Erni T. Dissociative experiences and dissociative disorders in acute psychiatric inpatients. Compr Psychiatry. 1996 Sep–Oct;37(5):355–361.
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Published
Oct 29, 2024
Article Details
How to Cite
Akhand Pratap Singh, Manish Tyagi, Varnica Kotnala, Prerana Gupta, & S. Nagendran. (2024). THE IMPACT OF FAMILY STRUCTURE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN DISSOCIATIVE CONVULSIONS. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(10), 584-591. https://doi.org/10.53555/hj569153
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Author Biographies
Akhand Pratap Singh
Junior Resident, Department of Psychiatry, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, Phone: +91-7409820699
Manish Tyagi
Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
Varnica Kotnala
Clinical Psychologist, Psysync Wellness Solutions Private Limited, Meerut, India
Prerana Gupta
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
S. Nagendran
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
How to Cite
Akhand Pratap Singh, Manish Tyagi, Varnica Kotnala, Prerana Gupta, & S. Nagendran. (2024). THE IMPACT OF FAMILY STRUCTURE ON PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS IN DISSOCIATIVE CONVULSIONS. Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology, 31(10), 584-591. https://doi.org/10.53555/hj569153