Course Description

Contemporary scientific literature on dissociation frequently uses the term to refer broadly to a category of disorders or a class of symptoms, often implying a shared underlying pathogenic process and similar treatment approaches. Emerging research, however, suggests that this unified view may not adequately account for the diversity of dissociative phenomena observed clinically.

This presentation examines current scientific findings indicating that the disorders classified within the DSM‑5‑TR category of Dissociative Disorders, as well as a range of dissociative psychopathological manifestations, are associated with distinct pathogenic processes. Specifically, the session will introduce three different processes—disintegration, detachment, and dissociation—highlighting how each manifests clinically and contributes to differing symptom presentations.

Particular attention will be given to the role of attachment trauma in the activation of these pathogenic processes and the implications for clinical understanding and treatment planning. By differentiating forms of dissociation based on underlying mechanisms, this presentation aims to support more precise clinical conceptualization and informed therapeutic decision‑making.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to identify the limitations of the current conceptualization of dissociation and the scientific data that refute it.
2. Participants will be able to explain the three pathogenic processes that lead to different forms of dissociation: disintegration, detachment, and dissociation itself, and the resulting clinical manifestations.
3. Participants will be able to describe how the different pathogenic processes are activated by attachment trauma and the resulting therapeutic implications.

Session Level: Intermediate

Presenter(s)

Benedetto Farina, Ph.D.

Benedetto Farina, Psychiatrist, and psychotherapist, PhD in Neuroscience, full professor of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the European University of Rome. Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation and of the editorial board of the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation. He was the winner of the 2015 Richard P. Kluft Award for Best Article. Author of approximately 150 publications, including monographs, articles published in national and international journals, and book chapters. He collaborates on research projects with national and international academic institutions. For about 20 years, he has been studying the effects of attachment trauma and treating patients with attachment trauma histories. He also practices EMDR.