Dissociative Disorders

Question 1

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Answer 1

A: Disruption of identity characterized by 2 or more distinct personality states, which may be described in some cultures as an experience of possession. The disruption in identity involves marked discontinuity in sense of self & sense of agency, accompanied by related alterations in affect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition and/or sensory-motor functioning. Signs and sx may be reported by others or the individual
B: Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal info and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent w/ ordinary forgetting
C: The sx cause significant distress or impairment
D: Disturbance is not a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice. Note: In children, the sx are not better explained by imaginary playmates or other fantasy play
E: The sx are not due to effects of a substance or another medical condition

Question 2

Dissociative Amnesia

Answer 2

A: An inability to recall important autobiographical info, usually of a traumatic or stressful nature, that is inconsistent w/ ordinary forgetting. Note: Most often consists of localized or selective amnesia for a specific event or events; or generalized amnesia for identity & life history
B: The sx cause significant distress or impairment
C: The disturbance is not due to effects of substance or another
D: Disturbance is not better explained by dissociate identity disorder, PTSD, acute stress disorder, somatic sx disorder, or major or mild neurocognitive disorder
Specify If: With dissociative fugue- apparently purposeful travel or bewildered wandering that is associated w/ amnesia for identity or for other important autobiographical info

Question 3

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Answer 3

A. The presence of persistent or recurrent experiences of depersonalization, derealization or both:
Depersonalization: Experiences of unreality, detachment or being an outside observer w/ respect to one’s thoughts, feelings, sensations, body or actions (perceptual alterations, distorted sense of time, absent self, emotional & physical numbing)
Derealization: Experiences of unreality or detachments w/ respect to surroundings (individuals or objects are experienced as unreal, dreamlike, foggy, lifeless or visually distorted)
B: During the depersonalization or derealization experiences, reality testing remains intact
C: The sx cause significant distress or impairment
D: The disturbance is not due to substance use or another medical condition
E: The disturbance is not better explained by another mental disorder