Dissociative Disorders

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Dissociative Disorders
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An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

• Dissociative Phenomena

• Depersonalization
• Altered Perception of Self

• Derealization
• Altered Perception of World

• Common Experience

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A Self-Test
Some people have the experience of driving a car
and suddenly realizing that they dont remember
what happened during all or part of the trip.
0
100
4
A Self-Test
Some people find that sometimes they are
listening to someone talk and they suddenly
realize that they did not hear part or all of
what was just said.
0
100
5
A Self-Test
Some people find that they have no memory for
some important events in their lives (e.g. a
wedding or graduation).
0
100
6
A Self-Test
Some people have the experience of finding
themselves dressed in clothes that they dont
remember putting on.
0
100
7
A Self-Test
Some people sometimes have the experience of
feeling that other people, objects, and the world
around them are not real.
0
100
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Dissociation as a Spectrum Disorder
Complex DID
Fugue
Poly-Fragmented DID
Normal Dissociation
Amnesia
Partial DID
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An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

• Depersonalization Disorder
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Dissociative Fugue
• Dissociative Trace Disorder
• Dissociative Identity Disorder

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The Nature of Depersonalization Disorder

• Clinical Description

• Primary Features
• Depersonalization
• Derealization

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

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An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

• Depersonalization Disorder
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Dissociative Fugue
• Dissociative Trace Disorder
• Dissociative Identity Disorder

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The Nature of Dissociative Amnesia

• Clinical Description

• Several Patterns
• Generalized
• Unable to Remember Anything

• Localized or Selective
• Failure to Recall Specific Events

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An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

• Depersonalization Disorder
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Dissociative Fugue
• Dissociative Trace Disorder
• Dissociative Identity Disorder

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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

• Fugue Usually Ends Abruptly

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An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

• Depersonalization Disorder
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Dissociative Fugue
• Dissociative Trace Disorder
• Dissociative Identity Disorder

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The Nature of Dissociative Trance Disorder

• Clinical Description

• Differ Across Cultures
• Sudden Changes in Personality
• Possession by Spirits

• Females gt Males

• Often Related to Trauma

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An Overview of Dissociative Disorders

• Depersonalization Disorder
• Dissociative Amnesia
• Dissociative Fugue
• Dissociative Trace Disorder
• Dissociative Identity Disorder

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The Nature of Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Clinical Description

• Formally
• 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
• Other Related Research

• Consequences of the Debate?

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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