Assignment: Controversy Associated With Dissociative Disorders
To Prepare
- Review this week’s Learning Resources on dissociative disorders.
- Use the Walden Library to investigate the controversy regarding dissociative disorders. Locate at least three scholarly articles that you can use to support your Assignment.
The Assignment (2–3 pages)
- Explain the controversy that surrounds dissociative disorders.
- Explain your professional beliefs about dissociative disorders, supporting your rationale with at least three scholarly references from the literature.
- Explain strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with a dissociative disorder.
- Finally, explain ethical and legal considerations related to dissociative disorders that you need to bring to your practice and why they are important.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Dissociative disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by disruptions or changes in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. There is a significant controversy surrounding dissociative disorders as they are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood by clinicians, resulting in inappropriate treatment interventions. This assignment aims to explore the controversy associated with dissociative disorders, professional beliefs, and strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client, ethical and legal considerations that are important to bring into practice.
1. Explain the controversy that surrounds dissociative disorders.
There is a controversy surrounding dissociative disorders that stems from their subjective and non-specific clinical presentation. Some experts claim that these disorders are merely a psychological manifestation of past trauma or early childhood experiences, while others argue that they are a result of neurological dysfunction. Additionally, there is a debate around the diagnostic criteria, validity, and reliability of dissociative disorders, leading to the belief that clinicians may overdiagnose or underdiagnose these conditions.
2. Explain your professional beliefs about dissociative disorders, supporting your rationale with at least three scholarly references from the literature.
As a healthcare professional, I believe that dissociative disorders are real and require timely recognition and appropriate treatment. Studies suggest that dissociative disorders are commonly associated with childhood abuse, neglect, or trauma, and often co-occur with other mental health conditions. This is supported by research findings such as the study by Sar and Ross (2006), which found that 96% of individuals diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID) reported a history of childhood abuse or trauma. Additionally, recent studies have identified abnormalities in brain structure and function in individuals with dissociative disorders, further supporting their neurological basis. For instance, Lanius et al. (2010) found that individuals with DID had decreased activity in the brain regions associated with self-awareness and increased activity in regions related to emotional reactivity. Overall, these findings indicate a need for healthcare professionals to recognize the complexity of dissociative disorders and adopt a comprehensive approach to treatment.
3. Explain strategies for maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client that may present with a dissociative disorder.
Maintaining the therapeutic relationship with a client with dissociative disorders can be challenging, as they may struggle with trust, attachment, and emotional regulation. Effective strategies for building a therapeutic alliance include establishing a safe and secure environment, demonstrating empathy and respect, being transparent, avoiding invalidation, and being patient. Moreover, clinicians can employ a trauma-informed care approach that emphasizes safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. This approach allows for the integration of dissociated aspects of the client’s personality and history, thereby promoting healing and recovery.
4. Finally, explain ethical and legal considerations related to dissociative disorders that you need to bring to your practice and why they are important.
As a healthcare professional, it is important to recognize the ethical and legal considerations related to dissociative disorders. Individuals with dissociative disorders are often at risk of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or mistreated, leading to further harm or exacerbation of their symptoms. Clinicians have a duty to provide accurate diagnoses, appropriate treatments, and ensure confidentiality and privacy. Additionally, clinicians must adhere to ethical principles such as informed consent, autonomy, beneficence, and non-maleficence. Failure to uphold these ethical and legal considerations may result in professional misconduct, litigation, or harm to the client.
