Dissociative

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Dissociative Disorders
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Dissociation as a Spectrum Disorder

• Depersonalization - Derealization Disorder
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Dissociative Fugue
• Dissociative Identity Disorder

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Dissociation as a Spectrum Disorder
Complex DID
Fugue
Poly-Fragmented DID
Normal Dissociation
Amnesia
Partial DID
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The Nature of Depersonalization-Derealization
Disorder

• Clinical Description

• Primary Features
• Depersonalization
• Derealization

• Impairs Functioning
• Causes Significant Distress
• Runs a Chronic Course

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The Nature of Dissociative Amnesia

• Clinical Description

• Generalized
• Unable to Remember Anything

• Localized or Selective
• Failure to Recall Specific Events
• more common form

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The Nature of Dissociative Fugue

• Clinical Description

• Memory Loss
• Specific Incident

• Go to Another Location
• Unaware How They Arrived

• May Assume New Identity
• partial disintegration of identity

Fugue Usually Ends Abruptly
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The Nature of Dissociative Trance Disorder

• Clinical Description

• Differs Across Cultures
• Sudden Changes in Personality
• often attributed to Possession by Spirit
• may not be abnormal

• Often Related to Trauma
• Females gt Males

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The Nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Clinical Description

• Formerly called
• Multiple Personality Disorder

• May Adopt 100 Identities
• Alters
• The Nature of Alters

• Persons Identity is Dissociated

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The Nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Central Features

• Host Identity
• One Who Asks for Treatment
• Attempt to Hold Alters Together

• A Switch
• Abrupt Change in Personalities
• Usually Instantaneous

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The Nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Facts and Statistics

• Average Number of Alters?
• 15

• Females gt Males (91)

• Onset in Childhood
• Linked to Extreme Abuse

• Runs a Chronic Course

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The Nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Causes

• Unspeakable Childhood Abuse
• 97 of Cases
• Escape Into Fantasy World
• Become Someone Else
• Do What It Takes to Survive

• DID as a Means of Coping?

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The Nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Other Related Features

• Suggestibility
• Hypnotizability
• Similar to Dissociation

• Are These Related to DID?

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The Nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Abuse Controversial Issues

• False vs. Real Memories
• Do Therapists Plant Memories?
• Can False Memories be Created?
• Elizabeth Loftus
• associative memory illusion

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Treatment of Dissociative Disorders

• Treatment

• Dissociative Amnesia Fugue
• Usually Improve on Their Own
• Stress Reduction and Coping

• Dissociative Identity Disoder
• No Controlled Research
• Treatments are Similar to PTSD