[Dissociative symptoms during treatment of borderline personality disorder]. / Dissoziative Symptome im Verlauf der Behandlung der Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung.

There are hints for a negative predictive power of dissociative states for treatment outcome in patients with borderline personality disorder. A possible explanation is the alteration of information processing associated with dissociation. Dissociative states can be influenced by specific psychotherapeutic interventions. 30 patients with borderline personality disorder were assessed with self-report questionnaires to evaluate dissociation and psychopathology before and after treatment with Dialectic Behavior Therapy. As found in recent studies, dissociation before treatment was correlated to general psychopathology at treatment end. In contrast to the core hypothesis, patients with high initial dissociation did not present less improvement than those with lower initial degrees regarding the parameters of general psychopathology, anxiety, depression and psychosocial functioning. In terms of the parameter of dissociation, patients with high degrees of initial dissociation even achieved the highest extent of relative symptom reduction. This astonishing result can be explained by the treatment setting which to a high extent provided specific psychoeducation and treatment concerning dissociative behavior.

[Development and characteristics of Dissociation-Tension-Scale acute (DSS-Akute)]. / Entwicklung und psychometrische Charakteristika der Dissoziations-Spannungs-Skala akut (DSS-akut).

The Dissociation-Tension-Scale acute (DSS-acute) is conducted as a self-rating instrument to assess present-time dissociative features. In addition, the level of aversive inner tension is assessed. The study validates the psychometric quality of the DSS-acute. The sample included 195 female probands. Internal consistency is high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.94). The same is true for split-half reliability according to Gutmann (r = 0.93). The DSS-acute correlates high with scales assessing similar constructs but differs from global scales. The DSS-acute discriminates well between different diagnostic groups. There exist first evidences for being a sensitive instrument for assessing changing symptomatology. The DSS-acute is a reliable and valid instrument to assess present-time dissociative experiences as well as aversive inner tension. Current studies should further proof the sensitivity for changing symptomatology.