The experience of professionals receiving patients with manifestations of traumatic dissociation: a qualitative study

Traumatic dissociation is defined as a disruption or disturbance in the integration of various cognitive functions in response to a traumatic event and has been the subject of extensive research in recent decades. For mental health professionals, exposure to patients with a history of trauma can have both negative and positive effects on their well-being. However, few studies have focused on the specific experiences of professionals encountering patients with traumatic dissociation.

This study analyzed the experiences of 23 professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, and residents in psychiatry) working with patients presenting manifestations of traumatic dissociation, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) methodology.

This approach led to the identification of three key themes: (1) professionals' reactions to patient dissociation, (2) professionals' emotional and dissociative response, and (3) factors influencing reactions and impact on professionals' life.

In light of these findings, we propose several key points for training and supervision: taking into account the question of the body and physical contact; addressing the emotions experienced by professionals, particularly helplessness and loneliness, and carefully utilizing the diffusion of emotions and dissociation from the patient to the professional as a therapeutic tool to help patients self-regulate and reintegrate dissociated parts of themselves.