Table Of ContentCognitive Behavioural Approaches to
the Understanding and Treatment of
Dissociation
The study of dissociation is relevant to anyone undertaking research or treatment of
mental health problems. Cognitive Behavioural Approaches to the Understanding
and Treatment of Dissociation uses a cognitive approach to de-mystify the
processes involved in linking traumatic incidents to their effects.
The editors present a full and comprehensive understanding of mental health
problems involving dissociative disorders and their treatment, bringing together an
international range of experts. Each chapter addresses a single topic in full, including
assessment of previous research from a cognitive perspective, recommendations for
treatment and case studies to illustrate clinical approaches. Using an evidence-based
scientific approach combined with the wisdom of clinical experience, the chapter
authors make the relevance of dissociation immediately recognizable to those
familiar with PTSD, dissociative identity disorder, eating disorders, hallucinations,
and a wide range of psychological and non-organic physical health disorders.
Designed to provide new perspectives on both research and treatment, Cognitive
Behavioural Approaches to the Understanding and Treatment of Dissociation includes
a wide range of material that will appeal to clinicians, academics and students.
Fiona Kennedy, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, was formerly an NHS Director
of Psychology and is now MD of GreenWood Mentors Ltd. She has published
on dissociation and specializes clinically in adult survivors of trauma, personality
disorder and dissociation.
Helen Kennerley, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, is a founder member of the
Oxford Cognitive Therapy Centre and Director of the Diploma/MSc in Advanced
Cognitive Therapy Studies. She is an experienced clinician specializing in
childhood trauma, dissociative disorders and self-injurious behaviours.
David Pearson, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, is a specialist in child and adolescent
mental health, formerly an NHS Head of Psychology and Honorary Tutor at the
University of Southampton. He has published in a number of peer-reviewed journals.
This page intentionally left blank
Cognitive Behavioural
Approaches to the
Understanding and
Treatment of Dissociation
Edited by Fiona Kennedy, Helen
Kennerley and David Pearson
RO Routledge
U
TLED Taylor & Francis Group
G
E
LONDON AND NEW YORK
First published 2013
by Routledge
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2013 Fiona Kennedy, Helen Kennerley and David Pearson.
The right of the editors to be identified as the authors of the editorial material, and of the authors
for their individual chapters, has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form
or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission
in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and
are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Cognitive behavioural approaches to the understanding and treatment of dissociation / [edited] by
Fiona Kennedy, Helen Kennerley, and David Pearson.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Dissociative disorders--Treatment. 2. Cognitive therapy. I. Kennedy, Fiona (Fiona Clare) II.
Kennerley, Helen. III. Pearson, David (David C.)
RC553.D5C64 2013
616.89'1425--dc23
2012046958
ISBN: 978-0-415-68776-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-68777-5 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-50208-2 (ebk)
Typeset in Times
by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 8NN
We dedicate this book to all of our lovely children:
Eva, Noah, Lorna, Marie, Adam, Jude, Bibi, Joanna and Simon.
Thank you for being part of our lives.
This page intentionally left blank
Contents
Contributors ix
How to use this book xiii
Foreword
ArNOUD ArNTz xiv
Preface
FiONA C. KeNNeDy, HeLeN KeNNerLey AND DAviD PeArSON xvi
1 The development of our understanding of dissociation
FiONA C. KeNNeDy AND HeLeN KeNNerLey 1
2 Dissociation, personality and psychopathology: A cognitive approach
FiONA C. KeNNeDy 17
3 Can the foundations of dissociation be found in childhood?
DAviD PeArSON 40
4 The brain and memory
HeLeN KeNNerLey AND UDO KiSCHKA 53
5 The brain, neuropsychology and dissociation
HeLeN KeNNerLey AND UDO KiSCHKA 67
6 Imagery and dissociation
LUSiA STOPA 80
7 Dissociation and memory fragmentation
rAFAëLe J. C. HUNTJeNS, MArTiN J. DOrAHy AND riNeKe vAN WeeS-CierAAD 92
8 The eating disorders and dissociation
viCTOriA A. MOUNTFOrD 104
viii Contents
9 The role of dissociation in psychosis: implications for clinical practice
KATHeriNe NeWMAN-TAyLOr AND SUzANNe SAMbrOOK 119
10 Dissociation and somatoform disorders
riCHArD J. brOWN 133
11 Dissociative experiences in patients with borderline personality disorder
veGArD ØKSeNDAL HAALAND AND NiLS iNGe LANDrØ 148
12 Understanding and treating depersonalization disorder
eLAiNe C. M. HUNTer 160
13 Unravelling the mystery of dissociative identity disorder: A case
example and therapist’s journey
viviA A. COWDriLL 174
14 An evolutionary and compassion-focused approach to dissociation
PAUL GiLberT 190
15 Trauma-related dissociation: Theory and treatment of dissociation of
the personality
ONNO vAN Der HArT AND KATHy STeeLe 206
16 Dissociation: Perceptual control theory as an integrative framework
for clinical interventions
WArreN MANSeLL AND TiMOTHy A. CArey 221
17 Dissociation from an acceptance-oriented standpoint
FUGeN NezirOGLU AND KATHAriNe DONNeLLy 236
18 Summary and conclusions
FiONA C. KeNNeDy, HeLeN KeNNerLey AND DAviD PeArSON 249
Glossary 255
References 268
Index 305
Contributors
Richard J. Brown is Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and Programme
Director of the Clinical Psychology Doctorate at the University of Manchester.
He also works clinically for Manchester Mental Health and Social Care
NHS Trust within the Complex Primary Care Psychology service. He has
a long-standing interest in the psychological mechanisms and treatment
of dissociative and somatoform phenomena, and has numerous empirical,
theoretical and clinical publications in this area.
Timothy A. Carey is Associate Professor in Mental Health at the Centre for
remote Health in Alice Springs, Australia and also works as a clinical
psychologist in the public mental health service. He uses the principles of
control theory (Perceptual Control Theory) to understand and help people deal
with the experience of dissociation.
Vivia A. Cowdrill is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in acute inpatient care; a
cognitive behaviour therapist and dialectical behaviour therapist. Her clinical
and research interests are in personality disorders and the psychological conse-
quences of childhood trauma and dissociative disorders.
Katharine Donnelly earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Hofstra
University. Her areas of interest include acceptance-oriented therapies and
obsessive-compulsive spectrum behaviours. She is the co-author of the book
Overcoming Depersonalization Disorder: A Mindfulness and Acceptance
Guide to Conquering Feelings of Numbness and Unreality.
Martin J. Dorahy is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology,
University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New zealand. He also maintains a
private practice focused primarily on complex trauma disorders.
Paul Gilbert Obe is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of
Derby and Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Derbyshire Health Care
Foundation Trust. He has researched evolutionary approaches to psycho-
pathology for over 35 years, with a special focus on shame and the treatment
of shame-based difficulties – for which compassion-focused therapy was
