dissociative identity disorder
Research Papers
Dissociation and Alterations in Brain Function and Structure: Implications for Borderline Personality Disorder
Dissociation involves disruptions of usually integrated functions of consciousness, perception, memory, identity, and affect (e.g., depersonalization, derealization, numbing, amnesia, and analgesia). While the precise neurobiological underpinnings of dissociation remain elusive, neuroimaging studies in disorders, characterized by high dissociation (e.g., depersonalization/derealization disorder (DDD), dissociative identity disorder (DID), dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder (D-PTSD)), have provided valuable insight into brain alterations possibly underlying dissociation. Neuroimaging studies in borderline personality disorder (BPD), investigating links between altered brain function/structure and dissociation, are still relatively rare. In this article, we provide an overview of neurobiological models of dissociation, primarily based on research in DDD, DID, and D-PTSD. Based on this background, we review recent neuroimaging studies on associations between dissociation and altered brain function and structure in BPD. These studies are discussed in the context of earlier findings regarding methodological differences and limitations and concerning possible implications for future research and the clinical setting.
View Full Paper →Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder with Neurotherapy and Group Self-Exploration
The eficacy of integrating Neurofeedback techniques with internal self-exploration was evaluated as a procedure for the treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). These procedures employed a modification of the alpphaltheta neurofeedbaclzprocedures previously described by Peniston and Kulkosky (1991). Eleven female subjects meeting DSM-121-R (1987) criteria for DID were provided with 30 sessions of Neurofeedback and 10 group sessions as treatment. Subjects were administered the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inuentory-II (Millon, 1987)and the Global Assessment of Functioning scale (DSM-ID-R, 1987) before and after 30 neurofeedback sessions. One to three years post treatment, subjects completed a Dissociative Experience Scale questionnaire (Bernstein and Putnam 2986) to assess the long term efficacy of treatment. Neurofeedback training coupled with internal self-exploration served as an effective treatment modality for the unification ofpatients with DID. OfII patients treated, 21 were assessed as unijkd post treatment. All subjects scored as normal on the Dissociative Experience Scale (Bernstein and Putnarn, 1986)for at least one year post treatment.
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