Dissociative Disorder

Topics: Dissociative identity disorder, Personality psychology, Mental disorder Pages: 9 (1541 words) Published: February 27, 2013
Dissociative Disorder

I. What is dissociation?

* Can be defined as a condition that involves disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity or perception.

* What causes dissociative disorder?

* Psychological trauma
* Sexual abuse
* Stressful events

* What are the effects of a dissociative disorder?

* Automatic switching of personalities during moments of stress * Losing time, or dissociative amnesia
* Creates a chaotic life for the original personality

* Different types of dissociative disorder

* The Four dissociative disorders listed in the DSM IV are as follows:

* Dissociative Amnesia
* Dissociative Fugue
* Depersonalization Disorder
* Dissociative Identity Disorder

II.Dissociative Amnesia

* What is Dissociative Amnesia?
* (Formerly Psychogenic Amnesia). The inability to recall important personal information and events that is not due to ordinarily forgetfulness.

* What causes DA?

* Emotional Trauma
* Sexual Abuse
* War and natural disaster

* What are the symptoms of DA?

* Inability to remember certain memories

* Inability to remember personal information

* Unexplained, persistent confusion

* Treatment
* Psychotherapy
* Cognitive Therapy
* Medication

III.Dissociative Fugue
* What is Dissociative Fugue?
* (Formerly Psychogenic Fugue) Pronounce as “Fyoog”, derived from the French word for “flight”. * Memory loss accompanied be leaving home and establishing a new identity.

* Causes of DF
* After Experience severe stress such as:

* Marital quarrels
* Personal rejection
* Financial or occupational difficulties
* War service or a natural disaster
* What are the Symptoms of DF?

* Sudden and unpleasant travel away from home

* Inability to recall past events or important information from the person’s life.

* Confusion or loss of memory about his/her identity, possibly assuming a new identity to make up for the loss.

* Extreme distress and problems with daily functioning (due to the fugue episodes).

* Treatment

* Psychotherapy

* Cognitive Therapy

* Medication

* Family Therapy

* Creative Therapies( art therapy, music therapy)

* Clinical hypnosis

Depersonalization Disorder
What is depersonalization disorder?

* Depersonalization disorder is marked by periods of feeling disconnected or detached from one’s body and thoughts (depersonalization). * The disorder is sometimes described as feeling like you are observing yourself from outside your body or like being in a dream. * People with this disorder do not lose contact with reality; they realize that things are not as they appear. * An episode of depersonalization can last anywhere from a few minutes to many years. Depersonalization also might be a symptom of other disorders, including brain disease and seizure disorders. What causes depersonalization disorder?

Little is known about the causes of depersonalization disorder, but biological and environmental factors might play a role. Like other dissociative disorders, depersonalization disorder often is triggered by intense stress or a traumatic event such as war, abuse, accidents, disasters, or extreme violence that the person has experienced or witnessed.

What are the symptoms of depersonalization disorder?
Depersonalization Disorder symptoms include:
* Continuous or recurring feelings that you’re an outside observer of your thoughts, your body or parts of your body.

* Numbing of your senses or responses to the world around you

* Feeling like a robot of feeling like you’re in a dream or in a movie

* The sensation that you aren’t control of your actions,...
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