Dispelling Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder Treatment: An Empirically Based Approach

Abstract

The evidence demonstrates that carefully staged trauma-focused psychotherapy for DID results in improvement, whereas dissociative symptoms persist when not specifically targeted in treatment. The claims that DID treatment is harmful are based on anecdotal cases, opinion pieces, reports of damage that are not substantiated in the scientific literature, misrepresentations of the data, and misunderstandings about DID treatment and the phenomenology of DID. Given the severe symptomatology and disability associated with DID, iatrogenic harm is far more likely to come from depriving DID patients of treatment that is consistent with expert consensus, treatment guidelines, and current research.

A utilização do Método de Rorschach no diagnóstico diferencial da Esquizofrenia e Transtorno Dissociativo de Identidade

“…Antipsicóticos atípicos (ou de segunda geração) podem estabilizar o humor, moderar a ansiedade e sintomas intrusivos. Antagonistas opioides, como a naltrexona, mostram-se promissores no tratamento de diversos de seus sintomas, podendo reduzir índices de autoagressão (Brand, Loewenstein, & Spiegel, 2014;Gentile & Dillon, 2013;Lakshmanan, Meier, Meier, & Lakshmanan, 2010).…”

Lived Experiences of Men With Dissociative Identity Disorder

“…This approach seems of even greater importance when recognizing the stigma surrounding male victims of abuse, and feelings of shame, which often accompany male trauma experiences. As opposed to sharing and processing details of traumatic memories, DID experts instead recommend educating clients on how to effectively contain these memories (Brand, Loewenstein, & Spiegel, ). Such containment allows clients to distance themselves from these moments and better regulate their reactions when such memories flood them.…”

Who Done It, Actually? Dissociative Identity Disorder for the Criminologist

“…Perhaps surprisingly, given the severity of this condition, recovery from DID is often successful (Brand, Loewenstein and Spiegel 2014;Brand et al 2013;Dorahy et al 2014). However, the process is complex, requires specialised psychotherapy, and is lengthy: five years and upwards (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation 2011).…”