- Makes use of communication with the other personality states that clients have, as well as any adaptive coping methods the clients have, instead of trying to 'switch off personalities' when clients are stressed
- Clients are taught relaxation exercises to allow them to have control over the cognitive distortions they have, and of the things around them
- Modeling is done by the therapist to simulate appropriate and calm reactions to crises (Gillig, 2009)
Hypnotherapy (Clinical Hypnosis)
- Makes use of integration of traumatic memories from young, to help patients gain control over their dissociative episodes
- Implants false memories (often used in conjunction with psychotherapy) so clients can have more positive memories
- Helps clients to recall their repressed memories and gain control over certain behaviors that they might engage in when they are in other personality states. Examples of these behaviours include self-mutilation, eating disorders and hurting others
- Involves fusing both the primary personality and alternative personality states so clients are able to better manage the stress that comes from the various personalities (Confer, 1984).
Psychotherapy (Individual)
- Similar to hypnotherapy, it involves the integration of separate personality states into one unified personality
- However, the person must be motivated or able to work with trauma
- It is done in three stages:
- Uncovering and 'mapping' out the alter personalities
- Discovering the traumatic memories and trying to combine all the personalities
- Consolidation of the new personality formed (Pais, n.d.).
- There are two main types of psychotherapy that therapists/psychiatrists use:
- EMDR (Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing)
- A newer form of treatment that accelerates client's information processing and aids in the integration of traumatic memories thereby helping the client to make meaning of the trauma (Isst-d, n.d.).
- Ego-state therapy
- Makes use of the "dissociative table technique". This technique allows rapid access to the inner self of clients so as to speed up the treatment process. The "dissociative table technique" is made up of various techniques that therapists combine (e.g. spotlight technique, middleman technique, relaxation imagery) (Fraser, 1991). For more detailed information on these techniques, visit http://www.empty-memories.nl/dis_91/Fraser.pdf
Family Therapy
- In family therapy, the client's family is educated on the causes and symptoms of DID so that they can get a better understanding of changes that occur during the reintegration of personalities
- Allows the client's family to recognise symptoms of recurrence/relapse so that they may act as a form of support to client (Pais, n.d.).
Group Therapy
- Acts as a supplement for individual therapy and is for clients whom are more comfortable with other patients with dissociative disorders
- Allows patients to blend in and feel as though they are not alone in the treatment process (Pais, n.d.).
Psychopharmacological Interventions (Medications)
- Antidepressants (help to reduce depression and stabilize moods, decrease in hyperactivity and anxiety)
- Some other types of medications are also prescribed and these are usually to help stabilize their moods (Sadock & Sadock, 2008).
Medications should always be taken with care. For accurate prescriptions, please visit a Therapist/Psychologist/GP near you.
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References
Confer, W. N. (1984). Hypnotic treatment of
multiple personality: A case study. Psychotherapy: Theory,
Research, Practice, Training, 21(3), 408-413.
Forgash, C., & Copeley, M. (Eds.). (2008). Healing the heart of trauma and
dissociation with EMDR and ego state therapy. New york: Springer Pub. Co.
Fraser, G. A. (1991). The dissociative table
technique: A strategy for working with ego states in dissociative
disorders and ego-state therapy. DISSOCIATION,
4(4), 205-213. Retrieved from http://www.empty-memories.nl/dis_91/Fraser.pdf
Gillig, P. M. (2009). Dissociative Identity
Disorder A Controversial Diagnosis. Psychiatry (Edgmont),
6(3), 24-29. Retrieved
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719457/
International Society for the
Study of Trauma and Dissociation. (n.d.). Dissociative Disorders- What you
need to know-FAQs. Retrieved from http://www.isst-d.org/education/faq-dissociation.htm#cause
Pais, S. (n.d.) Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Retrieved from
Sadock, B. J., & Sadock, V. A. (2008). Kaplan and Sadock’s Concise
Textbook of Clinical Psychiatry (3rd
ed.). Philadephia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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