Dissociative Disorders

Question 1

What are the key features of Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Answer 1

• Disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states
• Discontinuity in sense of self and sense of agency
• Alteration in affect, behaviour, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition and/or sensory-motors functioning
• Recurrent gap in recall of everyday events, important personal information and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting
• Not seen as normal part of the cultural or religious practice

Question 2

What are the key features of Dissociative Amnesia?

Answer 2

• An inability to recall important autobiographical information, usually of traumatic or stressful nature
• Inconsistent with normal forgetting

Question 3

What are the key features of Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder?

Answer 3

• Present of either state or both,
• Persistant or recurring experiences
• Reality testing remains intact during both experiences

Question 4

What is Depersonalization?

Answer 4

• Experiences of unreality, detachment or being an outside observer with respect to one’s thoughts, feelings, sensations, body or action

Question 5

What is Derealization?

Answer 5

Experiences of unreality or detachment with respect to surroundings
- Dreamlike
- Foggy
- Lifeless