Participants receiving the dissociative induction reported higher state-dissociation than those receiving the serenity induction. The posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) group reported greater state dissociation than the non-trauma exposed group, regardless of induction. State dissociation was related to trait dissociation, PTSD severity, and depression. The results provide an initial demonstration of the viability for inducing state dissociation in the laboratory with a PTSD sample. Dissociation is a common experience during or immediately after a traumatic event; yet, most of the current knowledge regarding dissociation is retrospective in nature. The goal of this study was to investigate a method of non-pharmacological dissociation induction within a PTSD clinical sample and control sample. It was hypothesized that (1) compared to participants receiving a serenity induction, participants receiving the dissociative induction would report greater change in state dissociation, (2) given higher trait dissociation, possibly reflecting a tendency to experience state dissociation, individuals with PTSD, compared to controls, would show greater change in state dissociation; and (3) change in state dissociation would be associated with trait dissociation. Table, references