The Finding Solid Ground Groups Study: Group Psychoeducation for Dissociative Disorders

Abstract
Introduction
Dissociative disorders (DD) are common, with prevalence estimated at 11% in community samples (Kate et al., 2019). There is a high rate of suicidality, non-suicidal self injury (NSSI), and functional impairment in individuals with DD's. Individuals with dissociative disorders also experience significant barriers to accessing appropriate treatment. In one analysis, over 50% of individuals with dissociative disorders experienced barriers directly related to their experience of dissociative symptoms (Nester et al., 2022). Despite the disease burden, DD are poorly understood and under-diagnosed by mental health professionals. No RCT-backed, evidence-based interventions exist that have shown effectiveness for DD symptoms (Bækkelund et al., 2022; Ganslev et al., 2020). However, The TOP DD Network program resulted in significant decreases in DD and PTSD symptoms as well as NSSI. It also resulted in improved emotion regulation and adaptive capacity (Brand et al., 2019). Brand and colleagues have adapted the skills taught in the TOP DD study into the Finding Solid Ground Program Workbook, which is a format suitable for use in a group setting. This psychoeducational program assists participants in learning skills to manage and reduce trauma related symptoms and to get and feel safer.

Purpose
With the Finding Solid Ground Groups study, we hope to decrease the invisibility of this population by adding to the evidence base for the treatment of DD. This presentation will discuss the results of a clinical trial of Finding Solid Ground program used in a psychoeducational group setting. We are seeking to understand the impact of participation in the Finding Solid Ground psychoeducational groups on severity of PTSD symptoms, severity of Dissociative Disorder symptoms, level of difficulties with emotion regulation, and adaptive capacity in adults diagnosed with DD. We are collecting qualitative data on what participants feel are the most helpful or unhelpful aspects of the group experience as well as changes they experienced in themselves during the study. We will also summarize the lessons learned by the researchers while leading the groups.

Methods
Adults diagnosed with DD (n=65) are participating in one of eight small groups. Each group meets weekly for 90 minutes, either on-line or in person, for 31 weeks. Each group meeting addresses one topic in the Finding Solid Ground Program Workbook. Groups are led by experienced psychotherapists. Participants complete pre, mid, and post surveys, as well as weekly short surveys to describe their interaction with the workbook topic through the week. The study will be complete in December 2024.

Discussion
This presentation will discuss the quantitative results as well as the results of a thematic analysis of qualitative data conducted by the group leaders. Group leaders will summarize and discuss lessons learned in what will be 372 hours of group leadership. We will emphasize information that will be useful for clinicians who treat DD. We expect the results to be profound and significant because we are weekly hearing statements such as, “I always hated grounding exercises, but I’ve been practicing them and they really work!”