Case study of a young woman with dissociative disorder
Description
In this ongoing case study of a woman in her 20s, with dissociative identity disorder with borderline features and somatization, we present the course taken in diagnosis and therapy.
As a small child, the father the client was attached to suddenly became absent for a while because of his illness, and she was left to the care of a mother who found it too difficult to cope, and a four years older sister who considered her to be an equivalent of a doll, with no autonomy. Several small-t traumas, and signs of dissociation were present in early history. Her adolescence was marked with difficulties in relationships. After completing post graduation, the pressures of worklife became the precipitating factor for her seeking therapy, and she presented with high emotional dysregulation, lapses in space-time orientation and confusion about life.
DES and MID were used for screening for and diagnosis of dissociation. The dissociative table helped understand the internal dynamics better. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing(EMDR) in combination with ego state therapy was used predominently for the treatment. Adjunctly, pharmacotherapy, hypnotherapy, emotional freedom techniques(EFT), the journey process, and energy healing were utilized. The phase oriented approach suggested by ISST-D helped set the course of therapy. Understanding of attachment theory was also a guiding force. The client made good gains in the stabilization phase, and has been able to tolerate trauma work well. The client has reached a place of higher internal cooperation, lesser triggering, and higher confidence in managing life, in her journey.
As a small child, the father the client was attached to suddenly became absent for a while because of his illness, and she was left to the care of a mother who found it too difficult to cope, and a four years older sister who considered her to be an equivalent of a doll, with no autonomy. Several small-t traumas, and signs of dissociation were present in early history. Her adolescence was marked with difficulties in relationships. After completing post graduation, the pressures of worklife became the precipitating factor for her seeking therapy, and she presented with high emotional dysregulation, lapses in space-time orientation and confusion about life.
DES and MID were used for screening for and diagnosis of dissociation. The dissociative table helped understand the internal dynamics better. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing(EMDR) in combination with ego state therapy was used predominently for the treatment. Adjunctly, pharmacotherapy, hypnotherapy, emotional freedom techniques(EFT), the journey process, and energy healing were utilized. The phase oriented approach suggested by ISST-D helped set the course of therapy. Understanding of attachment theory was also a guiding force. The client made good gains in the stabilization phase, and has been able to tolerate trauma work well. The client has reached a place of higher internal cooperation, lesser triggering, and higher confidence in managing life, in her journey.
Format
Conference
Language
English
Original Work Citation
Adithy (2013, December). Case study of a young woman with dissociative disorder. Poster presented at the Second International Conference of Bombay Psychological Association, Mumbai, India
Citation
“Case study of a young woman with dissociative disorder,” Francine Shapiro Library, accessed May 3, 2024, https://francineshapirolibrary.omeka.net/items/show/22594.