Dissociative Identity Disorder: Inter-identity Amnesia and Sense of Self Across Time

Abstract
Laboratory research continues to explore the complexity of dissociative identity disorder (DID) as fleshed out in the clinical literature. The nature of reported amnesia between dissociative identities has been a central topic of empirical and clinical interest, and laboratory studies have sought to determine the degree to which information is inaccessible to recall by other identities. Another topic of conceptual interest to understanding DID is the nature of self-continuity, or the experience of sense of self over time in dissociative identities. This presentation outlines recent research exploring episodic memory retrieval across identities reporting amnesia for each other. In addition, it also explores diachronicity unity, the sense of self over time in dissociative identities. This work has been conducted using both experimental paradigms and survey designs. Results show evidence of memory accessibility even in cases that reported inter-identity, suggesting that at least in some cases, amnesia may be more related to metacognitive rather than cognitive processes, and that self-continuity may be somewhat tenuous at least in some dissociative identities. 

This session was originally presented as a live webinar in July 2021.

Potential to Distress: No

Target Audience

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this webinar participants will be able to: 

  • Recognize the nature of inter-identity amnesia in DID
  • Explore self-continuity in dissociative identities
  • Describe the latest findings on inter-identity amnesia and self-continuity in DID
     
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.00 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
12/31/2019
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$0.00
Your Price:
$35.00
Part of: 
Research Day Webinar Series
Rating: 
0

Presenter: Martin Dorahy, PhD
Presenter Biography: Martin Dorahy, PhD, DClinPsych, is a clinical psychologist and professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. He has a clinical, research and theoretical interest in complex trauma, dissociative disorders and self-conscious emotions (e.g., shame). He has published peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and co-edited four books in the area of psychotraumatology. He is a member of the the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists, New Zealand Psychological Society, and the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists. He is a Fellow and Past President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD). He maintains a clinical practice, focused primarily on the adult sequelae of childhood relational trauma. He enjoys skiing and downhill mountain biking and would like to be much better at both!

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.00 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$0.00
Your Price:
$35.00
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 [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code.