Outline for Dissociative Disorder
Dissociative Disorders
1.What are Dissociative Disorders?
a.Conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity and/or perception.
b.People with dissociative disorders chronically escape their reality in involuntary, unhealthy ways ranging from suppressing memories to assuming alternate identities. 2.The three types of Dissociative Disorders
a.Dissociative Amnesia
b.Dissociative Identity Disorder
c.Dissociative Fugue 3.Signs and Symptoms
a.Symptoms of all three disorders:
i.Memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events and people ii.Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety iii.A perception of the people and things around you as distorted and unreal (derealization) iv.A blurred sense of identity
b.Each area has a distinct mode of dissociation.
i.Dissociative Amnesia- Memory loss more extensive than normal forgetfulness and can’t be explained by a physical or neurological condition. ii.Dissociative Identity Disorder- Formerly known as multiple personality disorder. Switching to alternate identities when under stress. These personalities may have their own name, personal history, and characteristics including manner, voice, and gender. Some even have physical qualities such as the need for corrective eyewear. People with this disorder typically also have dissociative amnesia. iii.Dissociative Fugue- People with this condition dissociate by putting real distance between themselves and their identity. Some people may abruptly leave home or work and forget who they are; some even adopt a new identity at a new location. A fugue episode may only last a few hours, but could also last for months. When it lifts, the person may feel disoriented, depressed, and angry, with no recollection of what happened during the fugue. 4.Causes
a.Dissociative disorders usually develop as a coping mechanism to trauma. Usually children who are victims to chronic physical, sexual, or emotional
1.What are Dissociative Disorders?
a.Conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity and/or perception.
b.People with dissociative disorders chronically escape their reality in involuntary, unhealthy ways ranging from suppressing memories to assuming alternate identities. 2.The three types of Dissociative Disorders
a.Dissociative Amnesia
b.Dissociative Identity Disorder
c.Dissociative Fugue 3.Signs and Symptoms
a.Symptoms of all three disorders:
i.Memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events and people ii.Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety iii.A perception of the people and things around you as distorted and unreal (derealization) iv.A blurred sense of identity
b.Each area has a distinct mode of dissociation.
i.Dissociative Amnesia- Memory loss more extensive than normal forgetfulness and can’t be explained by a physical or neurological condition. ii.Dissociative Identity Disorder- Formerly known as multiple personality disorder. Switching to alternate identities when under stress. These personalities may have their own name, personal history, and characteristics including manner, voice, and gender. Some even have physical qualities such as the need for corrective eyewear. People with this disorder typically also have dissociative amnesia. iii.Dissociative Fugue- People with this condition dissociate by putting real distance between themselves and their identity. Some people may abruptly leave home or work and forget who they are; some even adopt a new identity at a new location. A fugue episode may only last a few hours, but could also last for months. When it lifts, the person may feel disoriented, depressed, and angry, with no recollection of what happened during the fugue. 4.Causes
a.Dissociative disorders usually develop as a coping mechanism to trauma. Usually children who are victims to chronic physical, sexual, or emotional