Finding One’s Voice: Psychotherapy for Dissociative Motor Disorders in the Indian Context

• Published in: Journal of contemporary psychotherapy Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 249 - 255
• Main Authors: Sahota, Poonam Bir Kaur, D’Mello, Raina Jane, Shanbhag, Vandita, Nanjundaswamy, Madhuri H., Ganjekar, Sundarnag, Kashyap, Himani, Chandra, Prabha S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-09-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Culture; Dissociative disorders; Families & family life; Marriage; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental health; Neurosciences; Personality and Social Psychology; Psychiatry; Psychotherapy; Public Health; Supervision; Therapy; Womens health; Psychotherapy; Conversion disorder; Women’s mental health; Dissociation; Socio-cultural models
• ISSN: 0022-0116; 1573-3564
• DOI: 10.1007/s10879-022-09538-7

Dissociation is a prevalent disorder in India, however there is a lack of evidence-based psychological interventions worldwide. The present paper includes two case studies of dissociative motor disorder with onset in the perinatal period, seeking treatment in the Indian tertiary mental health set-up. Both cases presented with disabling symptoms of paraparesis, and mutism in one. The case series discusses similarities in presentation, socio-cultural contexts, and the psychotherapeutic approach. The psychotherapy process is discussed in detail, with a focus on challenges encountered, therapist reflections and supervision. Insights from treatment are presented, including the melding of approaches, and sensitivity of interventions to the larger socio-cultural framework.