Dissociation-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for people with dissociative disorders

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Dissociation-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy: a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

This program tests whether dissociation-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (DF-CBT) helps adults with dissociative disorders reduce their dissociative symptoms.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 140 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University Hospital, Tours (other)
• Locations: 8 sites (Angers and 7 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06917209 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional program delivers dissociation-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (DF-CBT) to adults diagnosed with dissociative disorders at several French university hospitals. Participants who meet eligibility criteria receive structured psychotherapy sessions and must have stable psychiatric medication if applicable. The protocol excludes people with active substance use disorder, certain severe psychiatric diagnoses, current psychotherapy, cognitive deficits, or benzodiazepine treatment. Previous exploratory, uncontrolled work has suggested DF-CBT may be promising, but controlled evidence is still needed.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) with a diagnosed dissociative disorder who can attend psychotherapy and provide informed consent are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with current substance use disorder (except tobacco), major neurodevelopmental or certain severe psychiatric disorders, cognitive deficits, ongoing psychotherapy, or on benzodiazepines are unlikely to be eligible or benefit from this program.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If effective, DF-CBT could reduce dissociative symptoms and improve daily functioning for people with dissociative disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Uncontrolled exploratory studies have reported promising results for DF-CBT, but randomized controlled evidence is lacking.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* ≥ 18 years
* Membership of a social security scheme
* Participant's express consent
* Have at least one diagnosis of dissociative disorder among the following:

depersonalization/derealization disorder, dissociative identity disorder, unspecified dissociative disorder.

* Be able to carry out psychotherapy sessions.
* If taking psychiatric medication, treatment must have been stable for at least 30 days.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Present one of the following current diagnoses: substance use disorder (excluding tobacco), neurodevelopmental disorder, anorexia nervosa, severe depressive disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, personality disorder other than borderline personality disorder.
* Present cognitive deficits.
* Be engaged in psychotherapeutic work.
* Be undergoing benzodiazepine treatment.

Where this trial is running

Angers and 7 other locations

• Psychiatrie / CHU ANGERS — Angers, France (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Centre régional du Psychotraumatisme des Hauts de France / CHU LILLE — Lille, France (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Urgences psychiatrique / CHU MONTPELLIER — Montpellier, France (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Unité de neuromodulation en psychiatrie / CHU NANTES — Nantes, France (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Centre départemental de Psychotraumatologie (unité TCC) / ORLEANS — Orléans, France (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Centre Régional du Psychotraumatisme du Grand Est / CHU STRASBOURG — Strasbourg, France (NOT_YET_RECRUITING)
• Centre Régional du Psychotraumatisme CRP / CHRU TOURS — Tours, France (RECRUITING)
• Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire / CHRU de Tours — Tours, France (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Wissam EL HAGE, MD-PhD — Clinique Psychiatrique Universitaire CPU / CHRU de Tours
• Study coordinator: Alexis VANCAPPEL, PhD

Conditions: Dissociative Disorder