Racial Differences in Associations between PTSD Dissociative Symptoms and Structural Barriers to Care

• Kezia Sebuabe, Psychology, University of Delaware

• Naomi Samini-Sadeh, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware
• Ana Sheehan, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of Delaware

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) represents a significant public health concern, with a disproportionate impact on Black individuals in the United States. Dissociative symptoms, which are marked by depersonalization and derealization, have been associated with greater severity of  PTSD. This study aims to address existing limitations by investigating racial differences in treatment outcomes among individuals dealing with dissociative symptoms in a sample of white (n = 149) and Black (n = 149) individuals who were matched based on income, age, sex and education. We conducted separate bivariate correlations for white versus Black individuals and discovered that, among white individuals, there was a significant positive correlation (r = – 0.22, p = 0.01) between mental health treatment utilization and dissociative symptoms, such that more treatment utilization was associated with reduced dissociative symptoms. In contrast, there was not a significant association between mental health treatment utilization and dissociative symptoms among Black individuals (r = -0.10, p = 0.23). One possible explanation for these findings is that white individuals may have access to care earlier on in symptom severity compared to Black individuals, contributing to greater symptom relief among white individuals, but not Black individuals. This is consistent with previous literature showing that Black individuals are more likely to delay care compared to white individuals leading to worse long-term outcomes. These findings highlight the significance of recognizing disparities in trauma related situations and call for interventions to alleviate symptoms in minority populations effectively. Further research is necessary to understand the factors contributing to these disparities and culturally sensitive solutions to better support Black individuals affected by dissociative trauma related symptoms.