Dynamic deconstructive psychotherapy
Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy (DDP)
Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy (DDP) is a fixed term treatment program. It is a 12-month treatment for predominantly borderline personality disorder but is also employed for other complex behavior problems, such as alcohol or drug dependence, eating disorders, self-harm, and recurrent suicide attempts. DDP combines elements of object relations theory, translational neuroscience, and deconstruction philosophy in an attempt to assist clients heal from a negative self-image and maladaptive processing of emotionally charged experiences.
What to expect?
The therapies which involves personality disorders are usually time and cost consuming, while Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy tries to provide relief to its clients within an year from the date of initiation of the first session. Through neuroscience researches have suggested that individuals having complex behavior problems experiences deactivation of the regions of the brain which are responsible for verbalizing emotional experiences, attaining a sense of self, and differentiating one self from other, and instead result in activation of the regions of the brain contributing to hyperarousal and impulsivity. Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy (DDP) aims at restoring the correct functionality.
How does it work?
There are two major underpinning mechanisms of Borderline Personality Disorder that are central to the Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapeutic approach, they are:
- Embedded sense of badness, this involves viewing one self with a negative evaluation. There is a cognitive bias where an individual perceives oneself and the surrounding in a way which is not favoring towards him or her.
- Aberrant processing of emotional experiences, this refers to the alteration of the emotional nodes in the brain, which forms the basis of most of the psychological problems.
Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy helps the clients connect with their experiences. This in turn results in the development of authentic and fulfilling connections with others. During weekly, 1-hour individually adapted sessions, clients discuss their recent interpersonal experiences and in the process they are asked to label their emotions. Once the client successfully label their emotion, they are asked to reflect upon their experiences in a way that is more increasingly integrative, accepting, and realistic, and try to learn how to develop close relationships with others while maintaining and protecting their own sense of self.
When is it used?
Research conducted and studies undertaken indicate that, Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy have been found to improve symptoms of borderline personality disorder, dissociation, and major depressive disorder, to lessen complex behavioral problems, which includes suicide ideation and attempts, reduces the tendency of self-harm, and substance abuse and misuse, to decrease institutional care, and to improve overall functioning. Dynamic Deconstructive Psychotherapy has been shown to be more effective for the treatment of borderline personality disorder than most other common psychotherapeutic approaches. Approximately 90% of clients who undergo a full year of treatment have been seen to achieve clinically meaningful improvement, and recovery usually progresses after treatment is formally terminated.
Role of therapist:
The therapist dealing with personality disorders requires to maintain extra caution while examining the clients as well as endorsing their problem. Since most personality disorders are egosyntonic, the clients do not perceive it to be a problem, instead looks at it as part of their personality. The therapist must be enough skilled to look beyond the description the client and thereby diagnose the disorder appropriately the therapeutic procedure takes up its general treatment course.
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REFERENCE
Gregory RJ, DeLucia-Deranja E, Mogle JA. Dynamic deconstructive psychotherapy versus optimized community care for borderline personality disorder co-occurring with alcohol use disorders: a 30-month follow-up. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2010 Apr;198(4):292-8. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181d6172d. PMID: 20386259.