Table 1

Demographic and psychometric measures among participants, by acute dissociative experience

MeasureGroup; mean (SD)*BPD D+ v. BPD D−
BPDHealthy controls
Nondissociative (BPD D−)Dissociative (BPD D+)Testp value
Dissociative experience
 DSS (state)0.12 (0.11)3.10 (1.60)0.12 (0.22)t10.1 = 6.2< 0.001
 DES (trait)15.9 (11.5)35.5 (12.7)3.32 (3.01)t19 = 3.70.002
 Hearing threshold level, dB33.3 (4.62)42.0 (13.6)32.7 (11.2)t12.5 = 2.00.07
General psychopathology
 Borderline Symptom List301.77 (0.48)2.09 (0.53)0.74 (0.31)t19 = 1.40.17
 Cormorbidity
  No. Axis-I disorders1.30 (0.82)1.00 (0.89)t19 = 0.80.44
  No. Axis-II disorders0.50 (0.53)0.64 (0.67)t19 = 0.60.61
 PTSD: current, %50270.39
 PTSD: lifetime, %50360.67
 Trauma, %1008260.48
Baseline reactivity
 US valence5.70 (0.5)5.45 (0.7)4.86 (1.0)t19 = 0.90.36
 US arousal§5.20 (0.9)5.18 (0.9)4.51 (1.5)t19 = 0.10.96
 US log (SCR+1)0.36 (0.2)0.37 (0.2)0.27 (0.2)t19 = 0.20.88
 CS (habituation) log (SCR+1)0.09 (0.1)0.05 (0.1)0.05 (0.1)t19 = 1.30.20
 Skin conductance level0.94 (0.2)0.85 (0.2)0.83 (0.2)t19 = 1.20.23
Declarative knowledge
 CS+ contingency awareness67 (23)51 (29)49 (9.2)t19 = 1.60.13
 CS− contingency awareness17 (22)29 (27)9 (17)t19 = 1.10.30
  • BPD = borderline personality disorder; BPD D+ = borderline personality disorder, dissociative subgroup; BPD D− = borderline personality disorder, nondissociative subgroup; CS = conditioned stimulus; CS+ = positive conditioned stimulus; CS− = negative conditioned stimulus; DES = Dissociative Experiences Scale;25 DSS = Dissociation-Tension-Scale acute;24 PTSD = posttraumatic stress disorder; SCR = skin conductance response; SD = standard deviation; US = unconditioned stimulus.

  • * Unless indicated otherwise.

  • Fisher exact test.

  • Measured on a 6-point Likert scale: 1 = pleasant, 6 = unpleasant.

  • § Measured on a 6-point Likert scale: 1 = relaxed, 6 = excited.