Dissociative Disorders Overview

These flashcards cover key concepts related to dissociative disorders, their symptoms, diagnostic criteria, treatment approaches, and underlying factors.

What are dissociative disorders characterized by?

Disruption of normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior.

What are common positive symptoms of dissociative disorders?

Fragmentation of identity, depersonalization, and derealization.

What is dissociative identity disorder (DID) defined by?

The presence of two or more distinct personality states or experiences of possession.

What is the most common type of dissociative amnesia?

Localized amnesia, which involves an inability to remember a specific event or period of time.

What is one of the diagnostic criteria for dissociative identity disorder?

Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events or personal information inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.

How do symptoms of dissociative disorders typically affect a person?

Symptoms can cause clinically significant distress or impairment in various areas of functioning.

What factor is often linked to the development of dissociative disorders?

Trauma and stress.

What type of therapy is commonly used in treating dissociative identity disorder?

Phase-oriented treatment which includes safety stabilization and working through traumatic memories.

What condition involves the experience of unreality with respect to one's surroundings?

Derealization.

What is the goal of treatment for individuals with dissociative identity disorder?

Achieving integrated functioning among alternate identities.

What physiological effects must be ruled out to diagnose dissociative disorders?

Effects of substances (like drugs or alcohol) or other medical conditions.

What is an identified risk factor for developing dissociative identity disorder?

Childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect.

What are the two main types of depersonalization experiences?

Experiences of unreality regarding oneself and experiences of unreality regarding surroundings.

What is the final phase of treatment in dissociative identity disorder according to ISSD guidelines?

Final fusion, which is complete integration and loss of separateness of all alters/parts.

What is the estimated heritability rate for dissociation according to studies?

Between 50-60%.

What is a significant contributing factor in psychodynamic theory regarding dissociative disorders?

Repressed thoughts and feelings related to traumatic events.

What disorder is characterized by acute, transient conditions that last less than a month?

Acute dissociative reactions to stressful events.

What is an important aspect of the therapeutic approach for dissociative identity disorder?

Integration and rehabilitation of the different identities.

What medication types may be helpful in treating symptoms of dissociative identity disorder?

Anxiolytics and antidepressants.

In dissociative disorders, what is 'fusion'?

The point when two or more alters/parts join together with a complete loss of subjective separateness.