Dissociative Disorder

What is dissociation?

A disconnect between different facets of self or consciousness, leading to fragmented experiences.

What are the main symptoms of dissociation?

Disruption in memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, consciousness, motor control, or behavior.

What are the three main types of dissociative disorders?

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), Dissociative Amnesia, and Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder.

What characterizes Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?

Presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states, each with its own pattern of perceiving and relating.

What is dissociative amnesia?

An inability to remember important personal details and experiences, often related to traumatic events.

What is a dissociative fugue state?

An episode of amnesia involving loss of identity and bewildered wandering or purposeful travel.

What are the types of dissociative amnesia?

Localized, selective, systematized, and generalized amnesia.

What is localized dissociative amnesia?

Inability to recall events during a specific period.

What is selective dissociative amnesia?

Partial recall of events within a specific period.

What is systematized dissociative amnesia?

Inability to recall a specific category of information.

What is generalized dissociative amnesia?

Complete loss of memory for life history and identity; extremely rare.

What are common comorbidities with dissociative disorders?

Conversion disorders and personality disorders such as dependent, obsessive-compulsive, avoidant, and borderline.

What is the average number of subpersonalities in individuals with DID?

Average of 15 subpersonalities in women and 8 in men.

What is the primary personality in DID often referred to as?

The host.

What is inhibitory repression?

Cognitive avoidance of target material leading to a loss of accessible memory.

What is elaborative repression?

Distortion of original memory through transformations and false additions.

What is the prevalence of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Approximately 1.8%.

What is the prevalence of Dissociative Amnesia?

Ranges from 0.8% to 2%.

What is the prevalence of Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder?

Approximately 1.5%.

What treatment approaches are used for dissociative disorders?

Hypnosis therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and integration of subpersonalities.

What is the role of trauma in dissociative disorders?

Trauma can disrupt memory encoding and contribute to dissociative symptoms.

What is a key consideration for diagnosing dissociative disorders?

Symptoms must be persistent and the primary source of impairment.

What is the significance of intact reality testing in dissociative disorders?

It indicates that the individual is aware of their surroundings and not experiencing psychosis.

What is the impact of childhood abuse on dissociative disorders?

More common in individuals with a history of childhood abuse.

What is the relationship between dissociation and suggestibility in children?

Children are more vulnerable to dissociation and suggestibility, increasing the risk of false memories.

What is the effect of diagnosis on dissociative disorder symptoms?

Diagnosis alone may reduce symptom intensity by alleviating anxiety.