There are no medications that effectively treat dissociative disorders directly. However, some medications are known to help some patients with troublesome symptoms or co-occurring psychiatric illnesses. Such drugs include antidepressants, mood stabilizers and antipsychotic agents. Short-term use of anti-anxiety agents is sometimes needed, but long-term use should be avoided.

Very specific psychotherapeutic techniques work extremely well in treating dissociative disorders. The therapeutic relationship between the patient and therapist is at least as important as using the appropriate therapy. Initial sessions should be used to develop that relationship and ensure the patient is safe. The therapeutic relationship is not a friendship or personal relationship that extends outside of therapy. It is a working relationship that lasts only as long as therapy is needed.

When safety is established, the work turns to teaching the patient skills to include how to stay in reality (grounding skills) and how to tolerate negative affect while staying in reality. Some patients are able to progress beyond this point quickly, but for most staying safe and learning these skills takes a very long time, and therapy can move forward only when safety is ensured.

Once a patient is safe and has the skills to remain in reality and experience negative feelings without losing safety, it is possible to work more directly on the symptoms and their causes. Patients should never be "required" to remember trauma unless they are prepared and willing to take that approach to therapy. For many, learning to control and/or avoid symptoms allows them to live a full and productive life despite some continuing dissociation. It is not necessary to "cure" the dissociation to have a successful therapeutic outcome.

For patients with dissociative disorders, it is frequently not indicated to refer them to therapy groups, to structured cognitive behavioral therapy (unless it is modified specifically to avoid affective experiences they cannot tolerate) or to suggest support groups that are not specific and appropriate to their clinical condition.

Although it may not be possible to prevent the development of dissociative disorders, any form of abuse or traumatic experience (e.g., combat, natural disaster) should result in an evaluation to address any unusual reactions.