Diagnosing and treating complex PTSD: An integrated approach model - Borderline personality disorder and comorbid DID: Intervening with EMDR, relational and sensorymotor psychotherapies

The paper presents a clinical case of an initial diagnosis of BPD referred to ARP by local psychiatric services where she was treated for a suicide attempt. The client presented serious affective dysregulation, impulse dyscontrol, dissociative symptoms and refused any medication. Clinical team opted for an integrated assessment which also stabilised the client. The assessment enabled to diagnose the client with structural dissociation isolating both ANP and EP aspects. Clinical intervention adopted an integrated approach using EMDR to treat specific dissociative traits, sensorymotor therapy to intervene on somatic symptoms, and relational therapy to develop therapeutic alliance. A preliminary stabilisation enabled the client to accept support from psychiatric services. This clinical case shed light on how the integration of assessment tools may detect better trauma disorders and challenged the importance of collaborative work between private practice and psychiatric services when intervening with seriously traumatized patients.

Conference

English

Maria Silvana Patti

Patti, M. S (2010, April). Diagnosing and treating complex PTSD: An integrated approach model - Borderline personality disorder and comorbid DID: Intervening with EMDR, relational and sensorymotor psychotherapies. Symposium at the 2nd Bi-Annual International European Society for Trauma and Dissociation Conference, Belfast, Northern Ireland