Research

Dr. Brand has authored over 140 published articles and book chapters focusing on:

  • Trauma and dissociation

  • Assessment and malingering

  • Dispelling myths about dissociation

  • Training therapists to treat traumatized clients

  • Examining textbooks for the accuracy of trauma material

Dr. Brand is also the author of The Concise Guide to the Assessment and Treatment of Trauma-related Dissociation and co-author of the two books comprising the innovative Finding Solid Ground program:

  • Finding Solid Ground: Overcoming Obstacles in Trauma Treatment

  • The Finding Solid Ground Program Workbook: Overcoming Obstacles in Trauma Recovery

Treatment Outcome Research

Dr. Brand was the Principal Investigator on the TOP DD study, the largest and only international prospective treatment outcome study of dissociative disorders to date.

  • Collaborators: Frank Putnam, M.D., Ruth Lanius, M.D., Ph.D., Richard Loewenstein, M.D., Hygge Schielke, Ph.D., and Amie Myrick, M.A., L.C.P.C.

  • Participants: 280 patients with dissociative disorder and 292 therapists from 19 countries.

  • Publications: The findings resulted in twelve publications.

Key Findings of the TOP DD Study

The results provided strong evidence for the efficacy of dissociation-focused treatment:

  • Cross-Sectional Results (Brand et al., 2009): Patients in the later stages of treatment had fewer symptoms of dissociation, PTSD, and general distress; fewer recent hospitalizations; and better adaptive functioning than those in the early stages.

  • Longitudinal Results (Brand et al., 2013): Over 30 months of treatment, patients showed significant reductions in:

    • Dissociation, PTSD, and general distress

    • Depression, suicide attempts, and self-harm

    • Dangerous behaviors, drug use, physical pain, and hospitalizations

    • Participants also improved their functioning, becoming more involved in volunteer jobs, school, and socializing, and reported feeling better. Treatment costs also decreased over time.

The TOP DD Network Study (Web-Based Education)

The TOP DD research team conducted the TOP DD Network study, the first web-based educational program for dissociative clients and their therapists.

  • Goals: To teach patients how to improve healthy management of PTSD and dissociation symptoms and stabilize their safety through improved emotion regulation, self-understanding, and self-compassion.

  • Results: Clients showed improvements in dissociation and PTSD symptoms, healthier emotion management, and increased adaptive capacities. They also showed decreased non-suicidal self-injury.

  • Publication: This was the first study about dissociative disorders treatment published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress (find it here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jts.22370).

Current Research: Finding Solid Ground RCT

Dr. Brand and the TOP DD Team are currently conducting the first randomized control trial (RCT) of the Finding Solid Ground program, an updated version of the program used in the TOP DD Network study. To learn more, visit: https://topddstudy.com/

Assessment Research

Forensic Assessment Research (Differentiating Genuine from Feigned Dissociation)

This research addresses the critical issue that individuals with dissociative disorders are often inaccurately classified as exaggerating or feigning psychological disorders by standard psychological tests.

  • One study found that the SIRS (a "gold standard" forensic interview) misclassified approximately one-third of individuals with dissociative disorders as likely feigning. This finding led to the development of the updated SIRS-2, where the new Trauma Index shows a lower tendency to misclassify dissociative disorders and complex trauma patients as malingerers.

  • Ongoing research is clarifying how dissociative patients and people feigning dissociation score on various psychological tests:

    • MMPI-2 scales that best differentiate genuine from feigned dissociative disorders (Brand & Chasson, 2014).

    • PAI validity scales that appear valid with severely dissociative patients (Stadnik, Brand, & Savoca, 2013).

    • TOMM showing very good utility when comparing clinical vs. simulated Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (Brand et al. 2019).

    • TSI-2 not showing acceptable utility statistics for distinguishing dissociative patients from simulated dissociation (Palermo & Brand, 2019).

    • SIMS showing very low utility statistics for distinguishing clinical DID from simulated DID (Brand et al. 2022).

These studies are critical for establishing evidence-based methods that help clinicians and forensic assessors accurately determine whether an individual suffers from severe dissociation or is feigning symptoms.

Distinguishing Dissociative Disorders from Other Conditions

Dr. Brand collaborated with Judith Armstrong, Ph.D. and Richard Loewenstein, M.D. on Rorschach research to distinguish dissociative patients from those with Borderline Personality Disorder and Psychotic Disorders.

  • Using theoretically and empirically derived hypotheses, the researchers found that dissociative patients show greater self-reflection and logical thinking along with perceiving others as potentially collaborative, despite a high level of traumatic intrusions.

Support Dr. Brand’s Research

Research investigating how to accurately assess and treat traumatized and dissociative individuals is of great importance.

  • Much of the research on psychological assessment has not been conducted using individuals traumatized throughout childhood (complex trauma).

  • As a result, many current tests and interviews may misclassify individuals with complex trauma-related difficulties as feigning, exaggerating, or having psychotic or borderline disorders.

  • It is critical that assessment research is conducted using complex trauma survivors so that valid and reliable data is developed, allowing clinicians to accurately interpret test results for traumatized individuals.

Rigorous treatment outcome studies on dissociative disorders are also critical to provide stronger empirical support for the best treatment methods for this under-studied and highly symptomatic group of individuals.

If you would like to support Dr. Brand’s research, you may make a tax-deductible charitable donation through Towson University’s Foundation. Information about this option is available here: https://towsonuniversity.givingfuel.com/top-dd-network

Thank you for your consideration!