Dissociative identity disorder and the nurse–patient relationship in the acute care setting: An action research study

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an action research study into the acute care experience of Dissociative Identity Disorder. The study, which was grounded in principles of critical social science, utilized focus group interviews and narrative construction. Nurses and patients are under-represented in all clinical evaluation and their voices need to be heard if services are to be truly collaborative. Findings of the study extend intrapsychic theories of trauma to emphasize the interpersonal relationship between nurse and person who can work together to facilitate recovery from trauma, make connections both intra and interpersonally and build resilience.

Nurses' attitudes towards clients who self‐harm

“…Arnold's (1994) survey of women who self‐harm found 69% were dissatisfied with emergency services and 96% were dissatisfied with psychiatric services. A study by Barstow (1995) and supported by others (Pembroke et al . 1998, McAllister et al .…”

Establishing and running a trauma and dissociation unit: a contemporary experience

“…Psychiatrists, staff or researchers associated with the Unit have contributed a modest but steady series of papers to the dissociative literature and to the wider trauma literature. Research projects or the development of particular therapeutic models carried out within, or associated with the Unit, have included cognitive inhibition in DID 27,28 , phenomenology and abuse histories in DID patients 25 , nurse−patient relationships in the treatment of DID 29 , patterns of inter‐hemispheric switching in DID 30,31 , phenomenology of the complicated clinical presentation in DID 32 , use of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and associated techniques in dissociative disorders 33 , auditory hallucinations and DID (Dorahy MJ et al. unpublished data 2004), and dissociation and driving incidents 34 .…”

Dissociative identity disorder: a literature review

“…Since nursing care is essential whenever clients with DID are hospitalized, systematic inquiry into how nurses enact these and other therapeutic principles is essential. Outcomes of an action research study into this area are discussed elsewhere (McAllister et al , 1999). Additionally, since the experience of dissociation is deeply personal, another possibility for future research is the subjective experience of being a hospitalized patient who dissociates.…”