Inpsyte

Braun, M.D., Bennett G.,"The BASK Model of Dissociation", Dissociation Vol I, No. 1, March 1988. Annotated - Noel Clark

The BASK model developed by Dr. Braun maps the process of dissociation along the lines of Behavior, Affect, Sensation and Knowledge. Memories which are not available to the individual are said to be dissociated in that the memories cannot be retrieved along the normal lines of association of ideas. Dissociation, which at its extreme end of the spectrum is MPD, is like repression, in that it is a defense or coping mechanism used by some individuals during such affective states as fear.

Braun, in 1984, proposed that the use of dissociation could be explained as a "neuropsychophysiologic (NPP) state-dependent learning (SDL) process." (p 5). His premise is that the extreme stress placed on a child during repeated child abuse have NPP which allow the coming together of an association of facts and linked to affective states. State dependent learning asserts that memories stored in one affective state are more readily retrieved when the individual is again in that state. He further states "Behaviors are expressed, and shaped by environmental responses. If the reinforcement of behavior occurs in a sufficiently disparate, dissociated NPP state, the effects of that interaction will not be available under the usual NPP state. If the NPP states are too disparate, retrieval is not possible." (p 5).

Braun asserts that dissociation can occur at any of four levels, Behavior, Affect, Sensation and Knowledge. It can also occur in all or some of these levels. Braun describes his model as a continuum which runs from full awareness, suppression (the conscious putting out of mind), denial, repression, to dissociation. Braun feels that PTSD should be classified as a Dissociative Disorder since many of the symptoms are actually dissociative. (p 8) Braun states that Horowitz (1986) listed denial symptoms of PTSD as inattention, amnesia, constriction of thought processes and emotional numbing. Intrusion symptoms were described as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, hypervigilance and episodes of strong emotion. (p 8) Since this constitutes a disturbance of mental processes they are considered to be dissociative. It would seem to me that since dissociation is recognized by DSM-IV as valid with it's inherent disruption of memory process and retrieval, than repression of memory (based lower on the continuum) would also be factual and not called into question as a coping mechanism.

Braun,Bennett G.,"The Bask Model of Dissociation: Part II - Treatment", Dissociation, Vol I, No. 2, June 1988.

Part II of this series was less in line with recall and repression of memory. It dealt primarily with treatment of individuals by use of the BASK model for those at the extreme of the continuum of dissociative symptoms of which repression is one coping mechanism. The Bask Model of Dissociation Part I is basically recapped for this article as prerequisite information for treatment use of BASK, therefore, I won't go into further detail other than express my thoughts.

The author does stress the end goal of therapy as being congruence of all levels of the individual, that being: behavior, affect, sensation and knowledge. It is relevant in respect that those individuals, who have had life histories of repeated trauma, particularly sexual abuse of an incestuous nature, have a right to work toward a therapy which results in a healthy mental state. A healthy mental state requires congruence of all levels of BASK. While an end product of congruence, which was disrupted by incidents of sexual abuse, may not require the confrontation of the abuser by the abused, regardless of whether it leads to the confrontation within the legal system, it appears trauma based therapy must include eventual congruence in the fragmentation of memory. The BASK model and Kluft's 3-P model, I believe are helpful tools in the diagnosis of conditions where memory may be affected on any or all levels of behavior, affect, sensation and knowledge. As the author implies, one should assume that retrieval, and subsequent work towards congruence of these BASK levels would result in temporary discomfort for the client as the memories are integrated.

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