Somatic Dissociation in Conditions of War: A Neuropsychological Model and Clinical Profiles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2227-1376-2026-47-lazKeywords:
personal security, interoception, predictive coding, polyvagal theory, traumatic stress, heart rate variabilityAbstract
Purpose. The study aims to conduct a theoretical and methodological analysis of the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying somatic dissociation in the context of disrupted personal safety and to substantiate an integrative model explaining this phenomenon under conditions of prolonged traumatic stress.
Methods. The research is based on theoretical analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, a comparative-analytical approach, and the systematization of clinical data. The conceptual framework integrates the neuropsychological model of interoception, predictive coding theory, polyvagal theory, and the structural dissociation theory of personality. Contemporary empirical findings in neuroscience, psychophysiology, and trauma psychology were also incorporated.
Results. An integrative neuropsychological model of somatic dissociation is proposed, combining three levels of analysis: interoceptive (processing of internal bodily signals), predictive (interpretation of these signals within internal models), and autonomic (physiological state regulation). It is demonstrated that under conditions of chronic threat, a stable system of dysfunction emerges in which reduced interoceptive accuracy, distorted interpretation of bodily signals, and dominance of defensive autonomic responses mutually reinforce each other. Typical patterns of clinical manifestations are described, reflecting different configurations of these mechanisms within the structure of individual experience. Somatic dissociation is shown to acquire a systemic and self-sustaining character under prolonged stress, functioning as a process in which disruptions in signal processing, interpretation, and regulation form a closed feedback loop.
Conclusions. Somatic dissociation can be conceptualized as a systemic neuropsychological phenomenon resulting from disrupted integration of interoceptive, predictive, and autonomic processes. Under prolonged traumatic stress, it becomes a stable condition that shapes subjective experience and self-regulation. The proposed integrative model clarifies the mechanisms underlying the emergence and maintenance of somatic dissociation and provides a conceptual foundation for further empirical research in this field.
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