Controversy Associated With Dissociative Disorders
The term "Dissociative Disorders" composes of an umbrella of disorders listed on the DSM-5(Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders5thEdition) that illustrate disorders characterized by issues in behavior, perception and identity. In the current DSM-5 edition, the disorders that fall under the category of dissociative disorders include dissociative identity disorder, other specified dissociative disorders, unspecified dissociative disorders, depersonalization disorder and dissociative amnesia v. However, a controversy exists about how they are included in the DSM-5 manual. Among the questions that spark the controversy is if the dissociative disorders can be authentically be classified as legitimate mental disorders. It is thought that dissociative disorders occur as a direct result of experiencing trauma or child abuse that is extreme over a long period of time. Those who support that dissociative disorders are legitimate argue that it is a ways that a patient uses to cope with trauma by basically repressing thoughts and memories about the traumatic experience. There is also a controversy about the concept of repressed memories among experts in mental health. This is because there is doubt on the validity of linking childhood abuse and repressed memories. Their view on the contrary is that traumatic experiences at a younger are that are forgotten and later present as repressed memories are inaccurately found by fanatical therapist. There are individuals that regard dissociative disorders as social norms derived from sociocultural expectations and modern society. My Professional Beliefs I agree that there are controversies surrounding the classification of dissociative disorders as mental disorders but my professional belief is that dissociative disorders are real. This belief is
supported by research that has found a direct link between a traumatic experience and dissociation (Bailey et al., 2019). The belief is also supported by there are patients diagnosed with dissociative disorders in healthcare facilities and they represent a control clinical population. Patients that have been diagnosed with dissociative disorders have been proven to recover after getting the recommended treatment (Huntjens et al., 2019). It is my opinion that ore research should be conducted to help develop relevant and valid information about the disorders as a way to advocate for the patient. The issue of dissociation is supported by the fact that it is a mental state where an individual clearly departs from the normal pathology to protect their mind from a traumatic experience. It is common for individuals with who have experienced severe trauma to detach psychologically because it helps them avoid intrusive thoughts and memories (Iyadurai et al., 2019). This clearly supports the idea that patients that have been traumatized often try to separate their reality from the trauma they experienced before. Therefore, the diagnosis of dissociative disorder should be accepted and there should be development of effective interventions that would help patients with the disorders have a better quality of life. Strategies for Therapeutic Relationship with Clients with Dissociative Disorders A good therapeutic relationship is developed with the basis of clinical interventions and its critical when providing care to a patient who suffers from complex mental disorders such as dissociative disorders. I would develop rapport from the first evaluation with the patient by creating a welcoming environment. It is also important to keep in mind that it takes time to develop therapeutic relationships with patients. This ensures that the therapeutic relationship is created on the basis of trust which is fundamental in patients with dissociative disorders that have experienced trauma (Tschuschke et al., 2021). An environment that is inviting and neutral will promote quality therapy sessions which ensure that clients are able to communicate openly
about their fears, emotions and thoughts. The second strategy is ensuring that there is no judgment when communicating with the clients. A therapist has to ensure that the clients are treated with compassion while also considering their need in factors such as culture and religion. It is also important to be the leader and have control over one's in a therapy session with a client so that they can have direction. It is the duty of the therapist to ensure that each session is directed towards achieving the primary objectives of the treatment which is the recovery of the patient. Another strategy is always keeping in mind that as a therapist, the client is in a vulnerable position and they should be afforded the highest quality and safe care at all times. If there is any reason that could hinder them from providing such care, they have to refer the patient to another provider. Ethical and Legal Considerations The ethical and legal considerations are important in en