Structural Dissociation: A Proposed Modification of the Theory

In Structural Dissociation, Dr. Ross proposes a modification of Van Der Hart, Nijenhuis, and Steele's theory of structural dissociation. Rather than requiring an emotional personality (EP) to be present in all cases, Dr. Ross suggests that a dissociated compartment could hold a wounded inner child or ego state (an EP), but also simply a thought, feeling, impulse, memory or sensation, without there being a separate entity with its own sense of self. Expanding the model in this way allows for the inclusion of many different DSM-5 disorders within the same structure and process, and thereby leads to an integrated treatment plan for the extensive comorbidity that often accompanies complex dissociative disorders. The modified version of structural dissociation supports the use of dissociative disorders treatment techniques for many different disorders, addictions and self-defeating behaviors.