Dissociative Disorders

Question 1

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

Answer 1

• 2 or more personality states observed/self-reported and cause disruption/discontinuity in sense of self
• changes in affect, behaviour, cognition, perception, consciousness, memory or sensory-motor functioning

2 symptom clusters:
1. recurrent dissociative amnesias that manifest as gaps in personal life events, lapses in dependable memory, and discovery in everyday life of unexplained items person has no memory of acquiring
2. sudden alterations/discontinuities in sense of self & of agency

Question 2

Dissociative Amnesia

Answer 2

inability to recall important personal information, usually of traumatic/stressful nature, and often follows traumatic/stressful life event

Question 3

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DDD) symptoms

Answer 3

3 types:
1. chronic
2. with discrete episodes
3. experience episodic symptoms that eventually become continuous

Question 4

Dissociative Identity Disorder treatment

Answer 4

• cognitive analytic therapy
• DBT

Question 5

Depersonalisation/Derealisation Disorder treatment

Answer 5

• CBT with mindfulness/acceptance component: reduce fear & anxiety associated with dissociative symptoms
• yoga & other bodywork: “ground” themselves & provide alternative to feelings of dissociation
• transcranial magnetic stimulation for depersonalisation disorder