14.1 Changes in Brain Function Associated With Improvement in Dissociative Symptoms Following Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

The dissociative subtype of PTSD is characterized by symptoms of depersonalization and derealization. These symptoms are believed to be a defense against overwhelming emotions and are associated with attenuated emotional responses. Previous neuroimaging studies have reported that dissociative symptoms are manifested as low activation in fear networks, as opposed to the exaggerated fear response seen in the brains of nondissociative patients with...