mental health disorders
Dissociative Subtype of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Treatment of Dissociative Subtype of PTSD
Modified, more gradual approach to psychotherapy used for PTSD Typically, psychotherapy for PTSD involves prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive therapy to dampen the hyperarousal brought on by PTSD. Because exposure therapy might worsen symptoms of dissociation, psychotherapy for the dissociative subtype of PTSD is modified to include gradual exposure to the stressor (or trigger) as well as Identifying the dissociative symptoms (specifically, depersonalization and derealization) Stabilizing, clarifying, and discussing the dissociative symptoms Exploring stressors that may lead to dissociative episodes Controlling any risk of revictimization Hypnosis may also be useful to help people contain and reprocess traumatic memories. This technique may enable them to Restructure their depersonalization and derealization experiences Learn to control their need to dissociate 