Engagement with Psychoeducation Exercises Linked with Coping Skill Use and Treatment Outcomes in a Web-Based Program...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Psychiatry
• Trauma Studies

Background:

• Complex trauma-related dissociation presents significant challenges for patients and therapists.
• The Treatment of Patients with Dissociative Disorders (TOP DD) Network Study aimed to provide tools for symptom reduction and capacity building.
• Psychoeducation and structured exercises were central components of the TOP DD intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between patient engagement with TOP DD program exercises and improvements in coping skill use.
• To examine the relationship between coping skill utilization and reductions in symptom severity and enhancements in adaptive functioning.
• To determine if engagement with exercises mediates the link between the program and improved treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multilevel modeling to analyze data from 227 dissociative disorder (DD) patients.
• Assessed the correlation between participants' engagement in written and practice exercises and their coping skill use over time.
• Employed a Monte Carlo method to test for mediation effects of coping skill use on treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Increased engagement with program exercises correlated with greater coping skill use.
• Higher coping skill use was associated with faster decreases in mental health and dissociative symptoms.
• Enhanced coping skill use also predicted increased self-kindness and adaptive functioning.

Conclusions:

• Completion of exercises in the TOP DD Network Study is beneficial for enhancing coping skill use in individuals with dissociative disorders.
• The study's educational components facilitated symptom reduction, increased self-kindness, and developed adaptive capacities.
• Program engagement appears to improve treatment outcomes by fostering greater utilization of coping skills.