Dissociative Disorders Part of an individual’s personality is separated or dissociated, from the rest, and for some reason the person cannot reassemble the pieces.

Minor examples of Dissociation You become so absorbed in a book or movie that you lose all track of time. You daydream your way through class, snapping to attention only when your name is called for the third time. You are so preoccupied w/ your thoughts while driving that when you get to your destination, you remember next to nothing about the trip.

Dissociative Disorders The Dissociative experiences are more extreme and frequent and severely disrupt everyday functioning. Dissociation is a form of avoidance—self protection. Dissociation is a common in PTSD (anxiety disorder)

1.Dissociative Amnesia Partial or total inability to recall important information that is not due to a medical condition. Amnesia develops for personal events and information. People have gaps in their memory, which may span a few minutes to years. After tests are done to rule out other possible causes, psychological testing helps identify the disorder.

Dissociative Amnesia Cause: Stress, trauma, family and/or marital problems, combat, physical abuse, etc.

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Involves extensive memory disruptions for personal information along with the presence of two or more distinct identities/personalities (alters), within a single person.

Diagnostic Criteria A.At least 2 or more personality states recurrently take control of the person’s behavior. B.Not due to physiological effects of a substance. C.Inability to recall personal info. that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness.

Alters: 2 to 100; 10 to 15 Short for “alternate personality”. Alters are dissociated parts of the self. Alters are parts of the individual’s overall personality.

Alters Co-consciousness: Awareness by one alter of the experience of other alters within the internal system of an individual with DID.

Important terms 1. Fusion: Two alters coming together to form a single state. 2.Switching: Changing from one personality state to another. Several (possible) indicators: changes in physical appearance, vocal patterns, mood. Common: severe headaches.

Physiological Data (Henninger) “Physiological differences are difficult and in many cases impossible to fake”. Differences in visual functioning Diff. responses to medication Diff. responses to allergies Diff. handiness Diff. Brain-wave patterns.

Cause of DID Extreme physical or sexual abuse in childhood Over time alters are created to deal w/ the memories and emotions associated w/ intolerably painful experiences.

Current Research DID is both a neurobiological response to threat and a psychological defense.

Treatment for DID Cure: maybe? Psychotherapy Medications Hypnotherapy Adjunctive therapies Treatment: long-term, intensive, and painful. Therapists of all professional backgrounds.

The End Psychology

2. Dissociative Fugue involves one or more episodes of sudden, unexpected, but purposeful travel from home during which people cannot remember some or all of their past life, including who they are (their identity). These episodes are called fugues. Cause: traumatic events, Extreme stress, etc. It is much more common among people who have been in wars, accidents, or natural disasters. Affects men

Dissociative Fugue Dissociative fugue affects about 2 of 1,000 people in the United States. A fugue may last from hours to weeks, months, or occasionally even longer.

Fugue What happens when they “awaken” from the fugue state?