Dissociative Identity Disorder

Treatments

Dialectical Behavior Therapy  

Summary of Treatment: The use of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a four-stage treatment model that has proven to be effective tool for treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder, which shares similar symptomology and has a high degree of comorbidity with DID. Research suggest that a modified behavioral approach using the first two stages of DBT can result in reduction of symptoms, improved functioning, and healthier quality of life. In these two stages, safety, self-harm and suicidality are addressed followed by the second stage of address the trauma and illness itself. Distinct factors which differ from traditional DBT is that they engage alters directly, do not recognizing alters as a problem, and do not discourage switching.  

• Reference: Foote, B., & Orden, K. (2016). Adapting dialectical behavior therapy for the treatment of dissociative identity disorder. American Journal of Psychotherapy, 70(4), 343–364. 

• Submitted by: Candice Smith 

Psychopharmacology 

Summary of Treatment: The use of antidepressants and anxiolytic medication can impact the reduction of symptoms with anxiety, depression, and overall mood stabilization. The use of benzodiazepines should be monitored closely due to the possibility of aggravating symptoms of dissociation. It is stressed that although psychopharmacology can help alleviate some symptoms, psychotherapy is the most effective method for assisting clients in processing and healing from their complicated history of trauma. 

• Reference: Ducharme, E. L. (2017). Best practices in working with complex trauma and dissociative identity disorder. Practice Innovations, 2(3), 150–161.  &   Gentile, J., Dillon, K., & Gillig, P. (2013). Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for patients with dissociative identity disorder. Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, 10(2), 22–29. 

• Submitted by: Candice Smith