Purpose: Complex dissociative disorders (CDDs) are prevalent among psychotherapy clients, and research suggests carefully paced treatment for CDDs is helpful. The purpose of the present study is to qualitatively explore helpful and meaningful aspects of the TOP DD Network programme, a web-based adjunctive psychoeducational programme for the psychotherapeutic treatment of clients with CDDs.Methods: TOP DD Network programme participants (88 clients and 113 therapists) identified helpful and meaningful aspects of their participation in response to two open textbox questions. Framework analysis was used to qualitatively analyze client and therapist responses.Findings: Participants found the TOP DD Network programme helpful and meaningful in nuanced ways. Three themes were created: (1) Components of the Programme (subthemes: content, structure), (2) Change-Facilitating Processes (subthemes: heightened human connection, receiving external empathy and compassion, contributing to something bigger, improved therapeutic work and relationship), and (3) Outcomes (subthemes: insight, increased hope, self-compassion, increased safety and functioning). The most emphasized theme was components of the programme, which captured its content and structure.Conclusion: Clients and therapists in the TOP DD Network programme described the programme's components and processes as helpfully facilitating positive outcomes in the treatment of CDDs. Therapists may consider integrating the components and processes in the programme into their practice with clients with CDDs.
Propósito: Los trastornos disociativos complejos (TDCs) son prevalentes entre los clientes de psicoterapia y la investigación sugiere que es útil un tratamiento cuidadosamente pauteado para los TDCs. El propósito del presente estudio es el de explorar cualitativamente los aspectos útiles y significativos del programa TOP DD Network, un programa psicoeducativo complementario basado en la web para el tratamiento psicoterapéutico de clientes con TDCs.
Métodos: Los participantes del programa de Red TOP DD (88 clientes y 113 terapeutas) identificaron aspectos útiles y significativos de su participación en respuesta a dos preguntas de cuadro de texto abierto. Se utilizó análisis de marco para analizar cualitativamente las respuestas de clientes y terapeutas.
Hallazgos: Los participantes consideraron que el programa TOP DD Network era útil y significativo en diferentes matices. Se crearon tres temas: (1) Componentes del Programa (subtemas: contenido, estructura), (2) Procesos facilitadores de cambio (subtemas: mayor conexión humana, recibir empatía y compasión externa, contribuir a algo más grande, mejorar el trabajo terapéutico y las relaciones), y (3) Resultados (subtemas: insight, mayor esperanza, auto-compasión, aumento de la seguridad y funcionamiento). El tema más destacado fue los componentes del programa, que recogía su contenido y estructura.
Conclusión: Los clientes y terapeutas del programa de TOP DD Network describieron los componentes y procesos del programa como útiles que facilita resultados positivos en el tratamiento de TDCs. Los terapeutas podrían considerar la integración de los componentes y procesos del programa en su práctica con clientes con TDCs.
Keywords: Complex dissociative disorder; Trastorno disociativo complejo; análisis marco; aspectos útiles; cualitativo; framework analysis; helpful aspects; psicoterapia; psychotherapy; qualitative.
The aim of the present study was to qualitatively explore significant aspects of the TOP DD Network programme through the experiences of complex dissociative disorder (CDD) clients and psychotherapists.Helpful and meaningful aspects of the programme included its components (i.e. content and structure), processes, and outcomes.This psychoeducational programme can be effective and result in improved therapeutic processes and outcomes for individuals with CDDs in psychotherapy.