The aim of the current research project is to test the assumptions of these two models by comparing the cognitive performance of individuals with DD on several tasks (e.g., memory processing, emotion perception) with patients with trauma-related…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
- Dissociative disorders
Synonym
Health condition
Ook bij psychische stoornissen: persoonlijkheids- en gedragsstoornissen, posttraumatische stressstoornis
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main study parameters are the outcomes of the cognitive tasks. For the
hyperassociativity task an emotional detour score and a hyperassociativity
score; for the card-sorting task scores on self-complexity,
compartmentalization, overlap, differential importance, and proportion of
negative attributes; for the emotion perception task an emotion recognition
accuracy score and an emotion sensitivity score; for the future
autobiographical memory test a future event specificity score; and finally for
the dichotomous thinking task, a dichotomous thinking score, splitting score,
and negative thinking score.
Secondary outcome
Other study parameters pertain to relevant sample demographics and
characteristics:
- Diagnosis
- Insomia
- Emotion regulation
- Interpersonal functioning
- Childhood traumatic experiences
- Dissocation-related metamemory beliefs
- Vividness of visual and verbal imagination
- Identity style
- Alexithymia
- Experiential avoidance
- Dissociation between self-states
Background summary
Individuals with severe Dissociative Disorders (DD), such as Other Specified
Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), are
characterized by identity fragmentation, meaning they report the experience of
having two or more distinct identities who are largely unaware of each other
and may report differences between identities in emotions and cognitions (e.g.,
memory). There is much debate about the etiology of this subjectively
experienced identity fragmentation in DD. In the dominant practice-based model,
identity fragmentation is conceptualized as a trauma-related response to
childhood trauma (i.e., physical and/or sexual abuse) resulting in several
identity states (e.g., trauma-avoidant and trauma-fixated). In contrast,
according to a recently developed model, the schema-mode model of DD, the
experience of different identities in DD is understood as the expression of
maladaptive schema modes (i.e., conceptualizing it as a personality disorder).
The two models fundamentally disagree on whether DD is more comparable to
trauma-related or personality pathology. Contrasting hypotheses are based on
testing the assumptions of these two models.
Study objective
The aim of the current research project is to test the assumptions of these two
models by comparing the cognitive performance of individuals with DD on several
tasks (e.g., memory processing, emotion perception) with patients with
trauma-related psychopathology (i.e., post-traumatic stress disorder), and
patients with personality-related pathology (borderline personality disorder
and avoidant personality disorder).
Study design
The study incorporates a quasi-experimental design.
Study burden and risks
The main patient burden in this study is the time investment. As it would be
too taxing to perform the diagnostic testing and cognitive tasks in one
session, we have divided these in sessions over three days, for a maximum of
3.25 hours (including break time) per day. To further reduce patient burden,
patients will perform the interviewing and testing at their treatment center
together with a trained test-assistant. Healthy participants will perform the
tasks at the RUG lab. We have used a comparable time schedule and procedure in
previous studies with DID patients (e.g., see the research protocol
METc2009/109). As all measures used in the current study have been previously
used and validated in empirical research with comparable patient groups, we
expect no further adverse effects for our participants.
Grote Kruisstraat 2/1
Groningen 9712TS
NL
Grote Kruisstraat 2/1
Groningen 9712TS
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a patient must meet one
of the following criteria according to the DSM-5 criteria (APA, 2013):
• A main diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder (300.14) or Other
specified Dissociative Disorder (300.15) as confirmed by using the
Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID; Dell, 2006) and the DID
section of the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule DSM-5 version (DDIS;
Ross et al., 1989)
• A main diagnosis of Avoidant Personality Disorder (301.82), as confirmed by
using the APD section of the SCID-5-PD interview (First et al., 2016)
• A main diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder (301.83), as confirmed by
using the BPD section of the SCID-5-P interview (First et al., 2016)
• A main diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (309.81), as confirmed by
using the PTSD checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5; Weathers et al., 2013) as a
consequence of childhood traumatic experiences before the age of 12
In order to be eligible to participate as a healthy comparison, a participant
must not be currently diagnosed with a mental health disorder according to the
DSM-5 criteria (APA, 2013), including the disorders named above, as assessed by
using the MID, SCID-5-PV and PCL-5.
Participants with DID who can switch between several identity states must:
• be able to switch on demand between a self-selected trauma-fixated
identity, a trauma-avoidant identity, and an overview identity state
• be able to perform the tasks in these identity states without
spontaneously switching to other identities
• be able to perform the tasks in these identity states without
interference of other identities
Participants with OSDD will not be asked to switch between identity states
Exclusion criteria
A potential participant who meets any of the following criteria will be
excluded from participation in this study:
- Severe current substance abuse (e.g., the use of hallucinogens, cannabis,
amphetamine-type stimulants and cocaine; DSM-5)
- Lack of fluency in Dutch
- Below the age of 18 or above the age of 65
- An IQ below 80
- For ethical reasons, those patients who are currently in crisis (i.e.,
immediate danger to oneself or others) will be excluded (e.g., acute high risk
of suicide or severe self-injurious behavior, or severe aggression-control
problems)
Design
Recruitment
Medical products/devices used
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL81040.042.22 |