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Dissociation CBT Studies

NCT06054009 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 9

Last updated 2025-07-03

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Dissociation involves distressing feelings of unreality and disconnection. Evidence suggests it is particularly common amongst people with existing mental health difficulties, where it has been linked with greater clinical severity, poorer treatment response, and increased self-harm and suicidality. However, there are currently no psychological treatments for dissociation that have been developed from a scientific understanding of its underpinning psychological factors.

In this project, three studies, each with four participants, will test a different psychological factor. Participants will be: adults (16+ years); on a waiting list for NHS psychological therapy; high scorers on a dissociation questionnaire. Participants will complete assessments before and after treatment, and at a one-month follow-up. The studies follow a 'multiple baseline design', meaning that all four participants for that study will complete their baseline assessment in the same week, and then be randomly allocated to wait either one, two, three, or four weeks before starting the intervention. The intervention will consist of four therapy sessions taking place within a five-week 'window'. Taking part in the research is voluntary. Before deciding whether to participate, we will explain the study and answer any questions.

Daily, participants will record a score for their dissociation and the psychological factor being targeted. At baseline, post-therapy, and follow-up, the researchers will also measure their levels of other factors related to dissociation (i.e. those not targeted by the therapy). Additionally, feedback will be requested from participants about the therapy at the end of their involvement, in order to improve it in future.

Ultimately, if successful, these interventions could form a pilot therapy for further testing and development. This could mean fewer people struggle with the challenges of dissociation.

Conditions

  • Dissociation
  • Depersonalization
  • Dissociative Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Brief CBT

In Study 1: x4 CBT sessions addressing cognitive appraisals of dissociation. In Study 2: x4 CBT sessions addressing rumination/worry. In Study 3: x4 CBT sessions addressing affect intolerance.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Birmingham

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Emma Cernis, DPhil · University of Birmingham

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
16 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-09-20
Primary Completion
2025-03-12
Completion
2025-03-12

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06054009 on ClinicalTrials.gov