Dissociative and Somatic Symptoms Flashcards
Sigmund Freud explanation of dissociation
Due to sexual trauma and impulses
What is Dissociation
Lack of normal integration of thoughts, identity, memory and consciousness
Defining symptom of Dissociative Disorders
Dissociation
What are dissociative experiences linked to?
Trauma and Distress
Types of Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative Amnesia (Dissociative fugue)
Depersonalization/ Derealization
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociative Amnesia
Can’t recall significant personal info
There is no biological cause for memory issue
Sudden onset, related to trauma
5 patterns of memory loss
5 patterns of memory loss
Localized Amnesia Selective Amnesia Continous Amnesia Systematized Amnesia Generalized Amnesia
Localized Amnesia
Can’t remember a specific time period (several hours to 1-2 days)
Selective Amnesia
Only some parts of a trauma can be remembered.
A veteran of a war may recall some details, such as taking prisoners, but not others, such as seeing a good friend get hit.
Continuous Amnesia
Can’t remember from a specific date to present day.
Systematized Amnesia
Certain categories of info are forgotten.
Generalized Amnesia
Person forgets entire life.
Dissociative Fugue
Forget identity and move away, assume new identity and start life over.
Sudden and unexpected travel away from home or work
Inability to recall past.
Must be differentiated from malingering
Repressed Memories
Controversial
Certain life events are repressed to help coping
False memory syndrome
False Memory Syndrome
People are made to remember events that never occurred, by therapists
Many people falsely accuse and imprison based on uncovered ‘repressed’ memories
Depersonalization/ Derealization
Depersonalization: sense of unreality/detachment from self
Derealization: disconnect with surroundings
Chronic
No memory or identity impairment
May be due to brain abnormalities in perceptual pathways
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Multiple Personality Disorder
2 or more personalities take over person’s behaviours.
What triggers Switching between alters usually
Stressful event or cue.
How many alters must be present for diagnosis of DID
At least 2
Can alters be aware of each other?
Yes they can be but not necessarily
How many alters does an average DID patient have
Host+ average of 13-16 ‘alters’
Ethology of Dissociative Disorders
Trauma Model
Socio-Cognitive Model
Pseudogenic Theory
Trauma Model
Diathesis-Stress Model
Result as a response to trauma and personality traits that predispose them to use dissociation as a defence mechanism
Evidence to support trauma model
Patients report higher rate of sexual abuse
Higher rate of dissociation among traumatized individuals
Socio-Cogniotive Model
Multiple personality is roleplaying due to selective reinforcement of symptoms
Leading questions and demand characteristics.