Effects of an Online Psychoeducational Program for People With Dissociative Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Stanley Kam Ki Lam; Cherry Tin Yan Cheung; Wai Tong Chien; Chui De Chiu; Arnold van Emmerik; Colin A. Ross; Hong Wang Fung

doi:10.1177/10497315251340902

Effects of an Online Psychoeducational Program for People With Dissociative Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Stanley Kam Ki Lam, Cherry Tin Yan Cheung, Wai Tong Chien, Chui De Chiu, Arnold van Emmerik, Colin A. Ross, Hong Wang Fung^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Academy of Wellness and Human Development

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: This study evaluated an online psychoeducational program for people with dissociative symptoms.

Methods: A total of 101 Hong Kong Chinese adults with dissociative symptoms were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 51) or the waitlist control group (n = 50).

Results: The attrition rate was 15.8% at post-intervention. Over 90% participants were satisfied with the program. Within-subjects analyses showed that the intervention group had significant improvements in active coping, cognitive reappraisal, self-efficacy, and dissociative symptoms from baseline to 2-month follow-up, while the control group did not have such changes. Between-subjects analyses further showed that the intervention group had greater improvements in cognitive reappraisal than the control group with a medium effect (ηp2 =.101).

Conclusion: This study contributes to the limited literature on interventions for dissociation. It provides preliminary evidence for an easily-accessible educational intervention for people with dissociative symptoms.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov—NCT05519748.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-12
Number of pages	12
Journal	Research on Social Work Practice
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315251340902
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 21 May 2025

User-Defined Keywords

dissociation
dissociative disorders
psychoeducation
internet-based intervention
trauma

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title = "Effects of an Online Psychoeducational Program for People With Dissociative Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial",

abstract = "Purpose: This study evaluated an online psychoeducational program for people with dissociative symptoms. Methods: A total of 101 Hong Kong Chinese adults with dissociative symptoms were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 51) or the waitlist control group (n = 50). Results: The attrition rate was 15.8% at post-intervention. Over 90% participants were satisfied with the program. Within-subjects analyses showed that the intervention group had significant improvements in active coping, cognitive reappraisal, self-efficacy, and dissociative symptoms from baseline to 2-month follow-up, while the control group did not have such changes. Between-subjects analyses further showed that the intervention group had greater improvements in cognitive reappraisal than the control group with a medium effect (ηp2 =.101). Conclusion: This study contributes to the limited literature on interventions for dissociation. It provides preliminary evidence for an easily-accessible educational intervention for people with dissociative symptoms. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov—NCT05519748.",

keywords = "dissociation, dissociative disorders, psychoeducation, internet-based intervention, trauma",

author = "Lam, {Stanley Kam Ki} and Cheung, {Cherry Tin Yan} and Chien, {Wai Tong} and Chiu, {Chui De} and Emmerik, {Arnold van} and Ross, {Colin A.} and Fung, {Hong Wang}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025. Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following ﬁnancial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the 2022 Sigma Theta Tau International Small grant.",

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AU - Lam, Stanley Kam Ki

AU - Cheung, Cherry Tin Yan

AU - Chien, Wai Tong

AU - Chiu, Chui De

AU - Emmerik, Arnold van

AU - Ross, Colin A.

AU - Fung, Hong Wang

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2025. Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following ﬁnancial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the 2022 Sigma Theta Tau International Small grant.

PY - 2025/5/21

Y1 - 2025/5/21

N2 - Purpose: This study evaluated an online psychoeducational program for people with dissociative symptoms. Methods: A total of 101 Hong Kong Chinese adults with dissociative symptoms were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 51) or the waitlist control group (n = 50). Results: The attrition rate was 15.8% at post-intervention. Over 90% participants were satisfied with the program. Within-subjects analyses showed that the intervention group had significant improvements in active coping, cognitive reappraisal, self-efficacy, and dissociative symptoms from baseline to 2-month follow-up, while the control group did not have such changes. Between-subjects analyses further showed that the intervention group had greater improvements in cognitive reappraisal than the control group with a medium effect (ηp2 =.101). Conclusion: This study contributes to the limited literature on interventions for dissociation. It provides preliminary evidence for an easily-accessible educational intervention for people with dissociative symptoms. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov—NCT05519748.

AB - Purpose: This study evaluated an online psychoeducational program for people with dissociative symptoms. Methods: A total of 101 Hong Kong Chinese adults with dissociative symptoms were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 51) or the waitlist control group (n = 50). Results: The attrition rate was 15.8% at post-intervention. Over 90% participants were satisfied with the program. Within-subjects analyses showed that the intervention group had significant improvements in active coping, cognitive reappraisal, self-efficacy, and dissociative symptoms from baseline to 2-month follow-up, while the control group did not have such changes. Between-subjects analyses further showed that the intervention group had greater improvements in cognitive reappraisal than the control group with a medium effect (ηp2 =.101). Conclusion: This study contributes to the limited literature on interventions for dissociation. It provides preliminary evidence for an easily-accessible educational intervention for people with dissociative symptoms. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov—NCT05519748.

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KW - dissociative disorders

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Effects of an Online Psychoeducational Program for People With Dissociative Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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