Dissociative and Somatic Symptom Disorders

Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
    - Definition: A dissociative disorder in which an individual develops more than one self or identity.
    - Common triggers: Early life trauma is a prevalent trigger for the development of different identities.
    - Purpose of dissociation: Individuals purposely dissociate from physical, emotional, or sexual trauma, subsequently relying on separate identities to cope.
    - Continued identity development: Identities may continue to develop even after the traumatic period.
    - Characteristics of identities: Each identity possesses its own unique ways of perceiving, thinking, and relating to others.
    - Suicidal tendencies: Over 70% of individuals suffering from DID have attempted suicide or engaged in self-harming and high-risk behaviors.

• Dissociative Amnesia
    - Definition: Inability to remember significant personal details and experiences, often linked to traumatic or very stressful events.
    - Distinction from everyday slips: This condition differs from common temporary forgetfulness (e.g., misplaced objects, forgotten names).
    - Specific memory loss: Individuals most commonly forget specific traumatic or stressful events in their lives.
    - Fugue State:
      - Description: An episode of amnesia where individuals cannot recall some or all of their past and experience a loss of identity, often leading to bewildered wandering or purposeful travel.
    - Suicidal risk: Individuals may become suicidal once the episode of amnesia subsides.

• Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
    - Definition: A dissociative disorder where individuals experience recurrent and persistent episodes of either depersonalization, derealization, or both.
    - Depersonalization: Condition in which individuals feel detached from their own body.
    - Derealization: Condition where individuals feel tuned out from their surroundings or feel a sense of unreality.