Study Notes on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Suggestibility, and Dissociation Related to Alleged Alien Abductions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Suggestibility, and Dissociation Related to Alleged Alien Abductions

Authors & Affiliations

  • Jose I. Latorre, María Y. Velliscab
    • Department of Mental Health, Obispo Polanco Hospital, Teruel, Spain
    • Department of Psychology and Sociology, Zaragoza University, Teruel, Spain

Article Info

  • Article History:
    • Received: May 16, 2021
    • Revised: September 19, 2021
    • Accepted: October 11, 2021

Abstract

Objectives

  • Assess emotional reactions to alien abduction claims.
  • Propose explanations other than severe psychopathology for reported experiences.

Methods

  • Sample: 19 individuals claiming alien abduction vs. 32 controls.
  • Test battery: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), suggestibility, and dissociation assessments.

Results

  • Higher PTSD and dissociation scores in abductees, but statistically significant differences only in suggestibility.

Conclusions

  • Emotional reactions to what are perceived as implausible experiences mirror those from actual trauma.
  • Dissociation may clarify some cases; alternatives to psychosis proposed.

Keywords

  • PTSD
  • false memory
  • sleep paralysis
  • suggestibility
  • alien abduction

Introduction

Global Phenomenon of Alien Abductions

  • Reported experiences of alien abduction are globally prevalent, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States.
  • These experiences are characterized by subjectively real memories of non-consensual interaction with non-human entities.

Memory Phenomenon

  • Reports indicate the variability of human memory and its malleability.
  • Important factors include suggestibility and dissociation, which may help explain these extraordinary claims.

Psychopathology Considerations

  • People with psychosis or personality disorders may have delusions of alien abduction.
  • However, severe psychopathy is not notably more prevalent in abductees than in the general population.

Explanatory Hypotheses for Abduction Experiences

Hoaxes

  • Some accounts may be fabricated for monetary or psychological gain.
  • Notably, many claimants prefer anonymity over publicity.

Sleep Paralysis

  • A common non-pathological disorder characterized by paralysis and hallucinations occurring between sleep and wakefulness.
    • Symptoms include:
    • Auditory and visual hallucinations
    • Immobility
    • Sense of pressure on the chest
    • Feelings of floating

False Memories

  • Abduction experiences may arise from false memories facilitated by suggestive techniques (hypnosis, guided imagery).
  • Memory distortion leads people to confidently recollect non-existent details.
  • False memories can cause significant emotional distress akin to trauma.

Unintended Intraoperative Awareness

  • Memories of abduction may be distorted recollections of surgeries under anesthesia.
  • Commonality in experiences reported (e.g., altered consciousness, medical settings) needs further investigation.

Abnormal Temporal Lobe Activity

  • Electromagnetic fields caused by tectonic movement could influence the temporal lobe, leading to experiences of alien encounters.
  • Symptoms may include:
    • Hallucinations
    • Sensation of an external presence
    • Feelings of detachment and fear.

Distortion Theory

  • Suggests interaction with an unknown external intelligent agent molding human experiences into fabricated alien encounters.
  • This perspective does not provide a comprehensive explanation.

DMT Hypothesis

  • DMT, a natural psychedelic compound, is posited to be linked with alien abduction experiences.
  • Prior research led by Strassman on DMT lacks adequate validation and replication.

Study Aims

  • To measure emotional responses to alien abduction experiences and determine the level of PTSD, suggestibility, and dissociation among individuals reporting these memories.

Participants

Abductee Group

  • Sample: 19 participants (9 women, 10 men)
  • Mean Age: 47.8 years (SD = 18.2)
    • Reported experiences:
    • 5 saw strange lights pre-abduction
    • 15 experienced abductions alone
    • 17 reported night experiences
    • 11 recalled memory gaps lasting various durations
    • 15 described spaceships and extraterrestrials
    • 2 experienced electronic interference post-abduction
    • Some reports were gradually recalled or accessed through hypnosis.

Comparison Group

  • Sample: 32 controls (15 women, 17 men)
  • Mean Age: 47.3 years (SD = 17.7)

Measures

Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS)

  • Self-report assessment of PTSD symptoms (17 items).
  • Frequency (0-4) and severity (0-4) scoring yielding total scores (0-136).

Inventory of Suggestibility (IS)

  • 22-item measure assessing general suggestibility on a 5-point Likert scale.
  • Subscales:
    • Fantasy proneness
    • Absorption
    • Emotional suggestibility
    • Influence of others
  • Good reliability: Test-retest (0.70); Internal consistency (alpha = 0.79).

Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)

  • 28-item self-reported scale measuring dissociative phenomena.
  • Responses rated on a 10-point scale (0-100%).
  • Good reliability: Test-retest (0.78 - 0.93); Internal consistency (0.93).

Procedure

  • Interviews conducted by psychologists to identify severe psychopathologies.
  • Participants summarized and recounted their experiences in detail.

Statistical Analysis

  • Non-parametric Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test utilized due to distribution limitations.

Results

DTS Findings

  • Abductees (M = 27.68, SD = 24.59) vs Controls (M = 17.74, SD = 17.54); no significant differences.
  • 47.3% of abductees met PTSD criteria; 36.8% showed some PTSD symptoms.

IS Findings

  • Control group significantly higher (M = 59.23, SD = 10.62) vs Abductee group (M = 52.11, SD = 9.22).

DES Findings

  • Abductees (M = 13.36, SD = 14.56) scored higher than controls (M = 7.17, SD = 6.49); no significant difference.

Discussion

  • Emotional reactions of abductees parallel PTSD symptoms similar to other trauma victims.
  • Variability in reported experiences emphasizes the distinction among individuals.
  • Results indicate lower suggestibility amongst abductees conflicting with false memory theories, while suggestibility remains a valid metric in psychotherapeutic contexts.

Limitations

  • Average sample size of 19 may limit the power of the findings.
  • Further research is needed to observe temporal lobe activity in those reporting abduction experiences.

Conclusions

General Insights

  • Individuals claiming abduction may experience substantial psychological issues, but also display sincere beliefs with real emotional impacts.
  • Recognition of the authenticity of emotional responses, regardless of the factual validity of recollections, is crucial in clinical settings.

Disclosures

  • No conflicts of interest or funding sources reported.

Acknowledgments

  • Gratitude expressed to all participants as well as specific individuals contributing to the research dissemination and motivation.