The Childhood Experiences That Lead to Dissociation in Adulthood: Stories from a Dissociative Disorders In-patient Unit and Statistical Insights from Questionnaires with Students, Out-patients and In-patients

Abstract
In this workshop Mary-Anne discusses the findings from her doctoral research, including from in-depth interviews with 13 in-patients with a Dissociative Disorder (DD), and results from 313 participants from an Australian university and 30 individuals in treatment for a DD who completed a questionnaire assessing dissociation (a 60 question version of Dell’s Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation), adult attachment style (Holmes & Lyons-Ruth’s Relationship Questionnaire), experiences of childhood maltreatment (a revised version of Freyd, Deprince, & Zurbriggen’s Betrayal Trauma Index), and dynamics between themselves and their parents during their childhood (Kate’s Parent-Child Dynamics Questionnaire). Mary-Anne predicted more than 50% of a person’s dissociative symptomology on the basis of specific childhood experiences of abuse, negative parent-child dynamics, an insecure attachment style, and the parents’ role in, or reaction to, any abuse experienced. In light of this statistical analysis, Mary-Anne will use vignettes from in-patients to describe the pathogenic family environment in which dissociation occurs. This workshop will enable participants to recognise specific risk factors, which may assist participants in identifying children at risk of developing a DD, and children and adults with a DD, as well as providing a greater understanding about the childhood environment that leads to dissociation in adulthood.

This session was originally presented as a live conference session in March 2019.

Target Audience

Beginning/Introductory

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:

  • Recognise the specific types of childhood maltreatment associated with dissociation, which may assist participants in identifying children at risk of developing a Dissociative Disorder and children and adults with a Dissociative Disorder
  • Identify the types of parent-child dynamics that create, contribute, or moderate dissociative symptoms and recognise the importance of the parents’ role and/or response in relation to the maltreatment experienced
  • Recognise the importance of the parents’ role and/or response in relation to the maltreatment experienced
  • Describe the adult attachment style linked to dissociation and Dissociative Disorders
  • Assess the benefits of using the short Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation for research purposes
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program.
Course opens: 
12/31/2019
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Part of: 
The World Congress on Complex Trauma: Research | Intervention | Innovation - Day Four
Rating: 
0

 

Presenter: Mary-Anne Kate
Presenter Bio: Dr Mary-Anne Kate is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of New England, Australia. Her doctoral research examined how childhood maltreatment and negative parent-child dynamics, including an insecure attachment, lead to dissociation and dissociative disorders in adulthood. Mary-Anne is a member of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation’s Scientific Committee and is the lead author of the Dissociative disorders and somatic symptom-related disorders chapter in Kring’s Abnormal Psychology textbook. Her professional background is in the development of national and European Union policies and practices to improve quality of life outcomes, including mental health, for refugees and other minority groups. Mary-Anne was recently awarded her PhD alongside the Chancellor's Medal in recognition of the exceptional merit of her research.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Please login or register to take this course.

"Your Price" above reflects your final price based on your membership status and career level. 

  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at cfas@isst-d.org to receive the appropriate discount code.