Dissociative Disorders

Question 1

Dissociative Disorders are often thought to be related to?

Answer 1

Trauma or abuse during childhood or severe trauma as an adult

Question 2

How is the memory loss in Dissociative amnesia different then dementia

Answer 2

Dissociative amnesia patients are often unable to recall common personal info but able to remember obscure details which is the opposite of dementia pts.

Question 3

Criteria for Dissociative amnesia dx

Answer 3

At least one episode of inability to recall important personal info usually involving a traumatic or stressful event, amnesia can’t be explained by ordinary forgetfullness and symptoms cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning and can’t be explained by another disorder including traumatic brain injury medical condition or substance abuse

Question 4

mainstay of Dissociative amnesia treatment

Answer 4

psychotherapy (but most important is establishment of patient’s safety)

Question 5

the memory forgotten in dissociative amnesia is usually?

Answer 5

a traumatic one, such as being raped

Question 6

the strong reaction patients often get when retrieving traumatic memories

Answer 6

abreaction

Question 7

a man is found 3 days after being reported missing. he was wandering around miles away from his home and when questioned could not remember how long he had been away from home or how he got there? You should think?

Answer 7

Dissociative Fugue

Question 8

Characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from home, accompanied by the inability to recall one’s identity or one’s past
patients may assume an entirely new identity and occupation after arriving in a new location

Answer 8

Dissociative Fugue

Question 9

True or False? dissociative fugue patient are aware of their new identity and their amnesia

Answer 9

False, they are unaware and never recall the period of fugue