Interactions between substance and non-substance use disorders, dissociative disorders, and the related underlying psychological conditions – psychopathological observation, causal inferences, and treatment

Abstract

Introduction and objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between dissociative disorders and diverse forms of sensation seeking that characterise dual disorder, referring to the paradigm of “practice-oriented research” to bridge the gap between concrete clinical issues and empirical investigation. In psychopathological studies, dissociation has been considered as a complex reaction to an external trauma or a condition of vulnerability that increases the likelihood of its occurrence. According to the literature, dissociative disorders can be understood as pathological states that drastically modify a person’s sense of self and their experience of their body, psychological functions, and physiological reactivity. Nevertheless, this study highlights the possibility that beneath these phenomena lies a less overt condition in which dissociation affects unconscious thought processes. Materials and methods: With this purpose, research on three process-outcome case studies carried out in naturalistic settings is presented, integrating quantitative empirical evaluation with qualitative evaluation based on the Human Birth Theory, in order to formulate clinically relevant inferences for neuropsychological or psychotherapeutic treatment. According to the stance of evidential pluralism, multiple research designs are proposed, which emphasise intrinsic properties and contextual variations that could have an effect on the outcomes. Results: The results reveal strong similarities between substance and non-substance use disorders regarding the pursuit of sensory and mental stimulation due to a state of dissociation. Conclusions: The results support further investigation to validate the aetiopathogenetic hypothesis proposed in this research project and increase its generalisability.