"Finding Solid Ground" in Inpatient Treatment for Dissociative Disorder Patients Followed by Transition to Outpatient Treatment Settings: A 1-year Follow-up Pilot Study

NCT07432646 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: FSG pilot project
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of the pilot is to examine the usefulness of the psychoeducational program, Finding Solid Ground, for patients with dissociative disorders in a naturalistc observational study, involving a 3-months inpatient treatment followed by patients continuation with the program in their local outpatient settings, by examining outcome of main trauma-related symptoms and adaptive coping. In addition, performing focus-group interviews with the patient groups at discharge and at follow-up, to gain information on their subjective experiences from participating in the program. The patients' therapists in the outpatient settings are invited to give written feedback on their experiences from working with FSG.

Conditions

Dissociative Identity Disorder; Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (DDNOS); PTSD and Trauma-related Symptoms

Keywords

childhood trauma; inpatient; outpatient; dissociation; selfcompassion; emotion regulation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Progress in Treatment Questionnaire (PITQ-p)

  Asesses adaptive capacities. It has 32 items scored on an 11-point scale ranging from 0% to 100%. Scores are averaged. Higher scores indicate higher capacitiy for adaptive coping.

  at respectively: baseline (T1); 3 months (T2); and 1-year follow-up (T3)

• PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5)

  Posttraumaticstress disorder checklist for DSM-5, scale and subscales. Sum scores range from 20-80, with higher scores indicating greater PTSD symptoms severity

  assessmentsat respectively: baseline (T1); 3 months (T2); and 1-year follow-up (T3)

• Difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS)

  Difficulties in emotion regulation scale, scale and subscales. It has 36 items ranging from 1 to 5. Scores are averaged. Higher scores indicate higher level of difficulties in emotion regulation.

  assessments at respectively: baseline (T1); 3 months (T2); and 1-year follow-up (T3)

• Self-compassion Scale - Short Form (SCS-SF)

  Self-compassion scale short form (SCS-SF) has 12 items ranging from 1 to 5. Scores are averaged. Total average socres are calculated after reverse scoring of relevant items, with higher scores indicating higher level of self-compassion.

  assessments at respectively: baseline (T1); 3 months (T2); and 1-year follow-up (T3)

• Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)

  Dissociative experiences scale - version II has 28 items ranging from 0% to 100%. Scores are averaged. Higher scores indicate higher levels of dissociation.

  assessments at respectively: baseline (T1); 3 months (T2); and 1-year follow-up (T3)

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Hedonic deficits and interference scale (HDIS)

  Assessment at respectively: 1) baseline (T1); 2) 3-months (T2); and 3) 1-year follow-up.

Study Arms (1)

Adults with compelx dissociative disorders and histories of childhood trauma

All group and individual therapies were in line with the model presented in Finding Solid Ground, developed by dr. Bethany Brand et al. (2022). Patients were admitted for the inpatient pre-planned treatment for a 3-months period, continue with therapy in their local outpatient settings after discharge from the inpatient period, and come back for a 5-days follow-up stay 9 months after discharge from the inpatient treatment.

Behavioral: Psychotherapy

Interventions

Psychotherapy BEHAVIORAL

Patients are admitted in groups of eight. During the 3-months inpatient treatment period, the program include a daily group session, and 3 weekly individual sessions with individual therapists and milieu-therapists, with focus on FSG-interventions from a trauma- and dissociation-informed perspective. FSG follows the international guidelines (ISSTD, 2011) for treatment of dissociative disorders from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. It uses different treatment modalities, such as live psychoeducation, psychoeducational videos, written and practical exercises, equine facilitated therapy, reflection and discussion groups. They have parallel individual therapy with therapist (psychiatrist or psychologist) and milie-therapists, and participate in physical activity and ward meetings together with other patients in the unit. All therapists are trained in trauma- and dissociation therory and treatment, as well as the FSG model.

Adults with compelx dissociative disorders and histories of childhood trauma

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

They are selected from patients referred to treatment in the Department for Trauma Treatment, Modum Bad, and have been routinely evaluated for treatment in this department, diagnosed with a dissociative disorder and in need of stabilisational interventions.

You may qualify if:

• The study include adults (minimum age of 18 years) with a complex dissociative disorder related to childhood trauma. All patients had received outpatient therapy with insufficient effect. Patients were diagnosed with at DSM-IV dissociative disorder, transformed to the ICD-10 dissociative disorders.

You may not qualify if:

• Ongoing psychosis, severe ongoing drug addiction, very disturbed group functioning, ongoing severe life crisis, mental disability, severe unsafe behavior (suicidality, self-harm).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Modum Bad: lead

Study Sites (1)

Modum Bad, Psychiatric clinic

Vikersund, Buskerud, 3370, Norway

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Pierorazio, N. A., Robertson, J. L., Snyder,B. L., Brand, J. Schielke, H. J., & Lanius, R. A. (2025). Helpful aspects of a psychoeducational program for individuals with complex dissociation: An update for the Finding Solid Ground program. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejtd.2025.100566

  BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dissociative Identity Disorder; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Dissociative Disorders; Emotional Regulation

Interventions

Psychotherapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mental Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Self-Control; Social Behavior; Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Officials

• Peter Sele, PhD candidate

  Modum Bad, Research Institute, Vikersund, Buskerud, Norway

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 12 Months
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 17, 2025
• First Posted: February 25, 2026
• Study Start: June 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 10, 2025
• Study Completion: June 10, 2025
• Last Updated: March 10, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-12

Locations

NO (1)