Mechanistic Interventions and Neuroscience of Dissociation
Emory University
Summary
The purpose of this study is to test the neurophysiological mechanisms of an intervention to reduce symptoms of dissociation in traumatized people. The intervention will be tested in dissociative traumatized people at two sites: Emory University and University of Pittsburgh. The researchers are interested in whether neural networks associated with attentional control and interoceptive awareness can be enhanced in this population. The researchers propose to evaluate whether different body-focused and non-body focused interventions can change these mechanisms.
Description
People exposed to chronic trauma face devastating effects to the brain and body. Chronically traumatized people become highly distressed when attending to emotional stimuli, which can lead to feelings of detachment from their bodies and environment. It is difficult to engage highly dissociative traumatized patients in trauma-focused treatment; however, these patients benefit from acquiring basic emotion regulation skills, including present-centeredness and body awareness. Various practices that involve present-centeredness and body awareness (including mindfulness-based interventions) have bee…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * experience of at least one Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Criterion A trauma (assessed using the Life Events Checklist) * a score of 7 or higher on the Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI) depersonalization subscale * willingness to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: * actively psychotic and cognitively compromised individuals (assessed using the Moderate-severe cognitive impairment screening tool (MoCA) will be excluded * moderate or more severe substance dependence (assessed with the MINI) * persons with imminent risk of ph…
Interventions
- DeviceVibration
Participants will attend two intervention sessions per week for a total of 8 sessions. Participants will sit in a chair in a sound-proof booth monitored by a researcher in front of a computer screen (which delivers instructions) and will be fitted with psychophysiology leads and a device strapped around the chest. There will be no explicit tasks or direction given in this intervention. Participants will experience smooth slowly varying breath-like vibration on their sternum. They will receive their assigned intervention for approximately 18 minutes.
- BehavioralBreath Focus
Participants will attend two intervention sessions per week for a total of 8 sessions. Participants will sit in a chair in a sound-proof booth monitored by a researcher in front of a computer screen (which delivers instructions) and will be fitted with psychophysiology leads and a device strapped around the chest. The participant will be asked to focus on their breathing during this intervention. They will receive their assigned intervention for approximately 18 minutes.
- BehavioralNo Distractions
Participants will attend two intervention sessions per week for a total of 8 sessions. Participants will sit in a chair in a sound-proof booth monitored by a researcher in front of a computer screen (which delivers instructions) and will be fitted with psychophysiology leads and a device strapped around the chest. Participants will engage in a period of no-screen time; during this time there will be no outside visual or auditory distractions. There will be no explicit tasks or direction given in this intervention. They will receive their assigned intervention for approximately 18 minutes.
Locations (2)
- Grady HospitalAtlanta, Georgia
- Western Psychiatric Institute and ClinicPittsburgh, Pennsylvania