What is it about?
When reading about a college student struggling with dissociation, inattention and personal care, stigma changes based both on what her disorder is called and what people think caused it. When people in this study were told her disorder was caused by childhood trauma (as opposed to biology), they were more optimistic that she might recover, and they also blamed her more for her problems. The label sluggish cognitive tempo also decreased recovery optimism compared to not labeling the disorder at all.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
This study provides evidence both for the importance of trauma screening in diagnostic settings, and renaming the syndrome called sluggish cognitive tempo.
Perspectives
My coauthors were all mentors for me and I could not have conducted this study, nor written this paper, without their guidance. I hope this paper helps people think about the importance of recognizing and considering trauma in diagnostic settings for those experiencing severe and disabling psychosocial health symptoms, because how we think about where a disorder came from changes how we perceive that person.
Aubrie Patterson
Northern Arizona University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Impact of trauma recognition on recovery optimism and blame: An experimental vignette study of sluggish cognitive tempo (cognitive disengagement syndrome)., Stigma and Health, March 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/sah0000612.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
