Psychodrama as an Adjunct Therapy in the Treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder

Creativity and dissociation. Dance/movement therapy interventions for the treatment of compartmentalized dissociation

“…It is not uncommon that a subconstellation of alters may simultaneously include the child-victim and the internalized-perpetrator. Understanding the purpose of the perpetrator and replaying scenes of trauma in which the perpetrator and victim alters are invited to dialog with the mediation of others may also be effective (Raaz et al, 1993). This work can only be effective when agreements on safety, as well as a basic sense of respect among alters, are already established.…”

“…Another way to overcome blockages to expanding the movement repertoire is by a variant of the doubling technique used in drama therapy (Raaz et al, 1993). In this technique, one alter acts 18 A relevant discussion that cannot be addressed here is the importance of traditional and native healing practices where trance-like dance was used as a medium to experience altered states of mind and provide ritualistic healing.…”

“…17 From a tactical treatment approach, instead of mapping the whole system, the therapist would focus on identifying identities that relate to a specific problem. Alters organize themselves in constellations around specific conflicts, encapsulating divergent sides in oppositional or complementary roles Raaz et al, 1993;Spring, 1993). For instance, a specific constellation may encompass an alter holding the emotional memory, another carrying the somatic symptoms, and another that has developed a cognitive coping mechanism, and so on.…”

“…This system is dynamic by nature, as it requires constant adaptation and recreation of alters for the person to maintain homeostasis (Braude, 2000). Additionally, although fragmented parts may remain arrested in childhood, others evolve simultaneously with the host personality or may appear later in the life of the person as a way to cope with life stressors (Raaz, Carlson-Sabelli, & Sabelli, 1993). It is also important to notice that alters are ego-syntonic (i.e., congruent with the history, values, behaviors and the self-image of the person) as well as cultural-syntonic (i.e., congruent with cultural mythology, beliefs and value systems); in other words, alters are shaped by personal and cultural attributions (Putnam, 1989;Spiegel et al, 2011;Van Duijl, Nijenhuis, Komproe, Gernaat, & de Jong, 2010).…”

Dissociative identity disorder as a wide range of defense mechanisms in children with a history of early childhood trauma

“…Having different handwriting styles reported type of abuse [1,6]. DID patients report having suffered severe, repetitive trauma at the hands of their own parents [8]. Other events that leave marks on the patients include incest (68%), physical abuse (75%), extreme negligence by caregivers (60%), and death or presence at the death of a loved one (40% All these models explain multiple personality disorder as an extreme way in which children try to cope with intolerable trauma, from which they cannot escape and against which they cannot defend themselves because of their physical and psychological immaturity.…”