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New Submission Deadline: March 31, 2009, 11:59pm EDT
26th Annual ISSTD International Conference
November 21-23, 2009
Pre-conference November 19 & 20
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
Washington, DC
Welcome to the 26th Annual ISSTD International Conference
Dear Friends of ISSTD,
We are excited to invite you to the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation’s 26th annual conference, to be held in Washington, DC on November 21-23, 2009, with pre-conference institutes held on November 19 and November 20. The theme of this year’s conference is “Pathways to Integration Following Chronic Traumatization: Mind, Body, and Relationships.” This theme highlights ISSTD’s special focus on (1) complex trauma, (2) the effects of complex trauma (i.e., myriad forms of fragmentation, including Complex PTSD and the Dissociative Disorders), and (3) integrative healing during the therapy.
The term, “integration,” is frequently used to describe the antithesis of posttraumatic fragmentation (or dissociation). Indeed, integration is considered to be the sine qua non of recovery from dissociative and other posttraumatic conditions. Integration has been described as a process, a mechanism, a series of mental and behavioral actions, and a goal. In short,integration is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. Thus, proposals may involve conceptual, neurobiological, developmental, somatic, cognitive, emotional, instinctual, spiritual, organizational, cultural, psychological, and social aspects of integration.
We invite both clinical and research proposals. We particularly encourage proposals from new members and from international members. By the way, you do not need to be a member of ISSTD to submit a proposal. We especially invite proposals that address the conference theme, but we welcome all proposals that address any aspect of trauma or dissociation. Clinicians are encouraged to submit presentations on theory, assessment, treatment innovations, and instructive case studies. We are interested in the entire spectrum of trauma-related disorders and symptoms, but, in keeping with the focus of ISSTD, we value most highly those proposals that pertain to complex trauma and dissociation, including Complex PTSD, the dissociative disorders, and complicated comorbidity. Proposals may address any kind of treatment setting (e.g., individual, group, inpatient, day treatment, primary health care, etc.). Proposals may focus on any population (e.g., children, adolescents, adults, various clinical populations, etc.). We also encourage submissions on ethical, cultural, and diversity issues that relate to trauma and dissociation. Researchers should submit studies on clinical, psychobiological, social, and public health concerns related to trauma and dissociation.
ISSTD’s present and future efforts are primarily directed to helping chronically traumatized individuals by (1) developing more refined diagnostic and assessment protocols for disorders of chronic traumatization, particularly the dissociative disorders; (2) testing best practices to develop evidence-based treatments for the complex comorbidity of chronically traumatized individuals; (3) engaging in research on the biopsychosocial effects of chronic traumatization, especially dissociation; and (4) educating professionals and the public on chronic traumatization and dissociation.
Great advances are being made with efficacy studies of short-term treatment interventions for PTSD, and these may be applied to selected chronically traumatized individuals. Yet we recognize and grapple with the severe limitations of these short-term treatments, which do not address adequately the complex and wide-ranging psychological and relational struggles of chronically traumatized individuals, in particular, those with complex dissociative disorders. And our work extends well beyond the mental health and social needs of the individual. We recognize that chronic trauma, in particular child maltreatment and severe early attachment disruptions, has devastating and pervasive effects not only on the mind, but also on the body, on public health problems, and on societies at large. In addition to having some of the highest levels of mental health comorbidity, chronically traumatized individuals, including those with complex dissociative disorders, are also at unusually high risk for many of the leading causes of death, as well as other chronic physical health problems.
The economic cost of this suffering can be counted in many billions each year. Ongoing social failures to realize the effects of chronic trauma prevent adequate research funding in the field, and inhibit sufficient education of clinicians in the assessment and treatment of the entire spectrum of trauma-related disorders, particularly dissociative disorders. As a result, the majority of patients with dissociative disorders are not properly diagnosed or treated in the first 6 to 8 years of their mental health treatment, even though chronically traumatized individuals represent a highly significant subset of those seeking mental health care. Our task is not only to continue integrating a broad base of knowledge within our field, but also to challenge ongoing personal, institutional, and social denial regarding the effects of trauma and dissociation, and to address public health problems related to chronic trauma. We must disseminate further understanding of chronic trauma and dissociation to other areas of psychiatry and psychology, as well as to public health institutions, including child welfare, prisons, and primary health care. To this end, the 26th Annual Conference will address these issues and more.
As always, our 2009 conference will feature a rich mixture of clinical, conceptual, and research presentations. ISSTD conferences are noted for their friendliness, warmth, and their encouragement of dialogue and networking. If you work with trauma or dissociation—as a clinician, as a researcher, or as an academic—we invite you to submit a proposal to present your work in Washington, DC this November at the 26th annual conference of the ISSTD.
Come and join the ongoing exchange of ideas that is ISSTD!
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