There are three primary types of dissociative disorders: 1 Dissociative identity disorder 2 Depersonalization /derealization disorder 3 Dissociative amnesia
Once known as multiple personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder usually stems from catastrophic experiences, abuse or trauma that occurred when the person was a child. Among people with this disorder, about 90% have been the victim of childhood abuse (physical or sexual) or neglect. Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder include:
Dissociative amnesia Acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are closely related to dissociative disorders, sharing such symptoms as memory loss, depersonalization, or derealization. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.
Treatment of dissociative disorders usually consists of psychotherapy, with the goal of helping the person integrate different identities, and to gain control over the dissociative process and symptoms. Therapy can be long and difficult, as it involves remembering and learning to deal with past trauma.
the basic building blocks of therapy with the dissociative individual are trust, safety, acceptance. A safe supportive environment is essential when informing the client of the diagnosis. The focus of treatment is to form a therapeutic alliance & work through the issues of each alternate identity.
The repression of ideas that leads to amnesia & other forms of dissociation is conceived of a way of protecting the individual from emotional pain.
Unlike people with amnesia they are not aware of having forgotten anything. When returning to former consciousness the period of fugue is forgotten. Dissociative Identify Disorder. Formerly known as multiple personality disorder. Is the presence of two or more distinct identities within one individual.
When planning care for clients with DID --You must trust them to express their needs. Also need to actively listen to each identity state & provide support, & especially when the client is struggling to accept the realization of their dx.
Malingering. Occurs when a person deliberately fakes symptoms in order to benefit. Factitious Disorder. A person intentionally produce or feign physical or psychological symptoms. A person with this disorder has a psychological need to assume the sick role. Dissociative Disorders.
Each identity has a particular set of behaviors, attitudes, preferences, memories, and ways of thinking that are observable by others and may even be reported by the affected person.
Dissociative disorders often first develop as a way to deal with a catastrophic event or with long-term stress, abuse, or trauma. This is particularly true if such events take place early in childhood. At this time of life there are limitations on one’s ability to fully understand what is happening, coping mechanisms are not fully developed, and getting support and resources depends on the presence of caring and knowledgeable adults.
Symptoms of dissociative amnesia. Dissociative amnesia means not being able to recall information about one’s past. This is not the same as simply being forgetful, as it is usually related to a traumatic or particularly stressful event or period of time.
One or both of the following conditions exist in the same person in a recurring pattern over a long period of time: Depersonalization – Feelings of unreality or of being detached from one’s own mind, body or self.
About 2% of the U.S. population experiences true dissociative disorders (not just momentary feelings of dissociation). All age groups, racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds are affected. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed.
Mentally removing oneself from a traumatic situation — such as an accident, natural disaster, military combat, being a crime victim, or repeated physical, mental or sexual abuse — can be a coping mechanism that helps one escape pain in the short term. It becomes a problem if over the long term it continues to separate the person from reality, and blanks out memories of entire periods of time.
The seriousness of such problems can range from minimal to significant. Suicide attempts, self-mutilation, and other self-injuring behaviors are common among those with dissociative identity disorder.