Depersonalization - Derealization Disorder

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative Fugue

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Nor

mal

Dis

soci

atio

n

Amnesia

Fugue

PartialDID

ComplexDID

Poly-Fragmented

DID

Primary Features– Depersonalization– Derealization

Impairs Functioning Causes Significant Distress Runs a Chronic Course

Clinical Description

Clinical Description

Localized or Selective– Failure to Recall Specific Events– more common form

Generalized– Unable to Remember Anything

Clinical Description

Go to Another Location– Unaware “How They Arrived”

Memory Loss – Specific Incident

May Assume New Identity;partial disintegration of identity

Fugue Usually Ends Abruptly

Clinical Description Differs Across Cultures – Sudden Changes in Personality often attributed to Possession by Spirit– may not be abnormal

Often Related to Trauma Females > Males

Clinical Description Formerly calledMultiple Personality Disorder

Person’s Identity is Dissociated

May Adopt 100 Identities – “Alters”– The Nature of Alters

Central Features Host Identity – One Who Asks for Treatment– Attempt to Hold Alters Together

A Switch – Abrupt Change in Personalities– Usually Instantaneous

Facts and Statistics Average Number of Alters? – 15

Females > Males (9:1) Onset in Childhood– Linked to Extreme Abuse

Runs a Chronic Course

Causes Unspeakable Childhood Abuse– 97% of Cases – Escape Into Fantasy World– Become Someone Else– Do What It Takes to Survive

DID as a Means of Coping?

Other Related Features Suggestibility Hypnotizability– Similar to Dissociation

Are These Related to DID?

Abuse: Controversial Issues False vs. Real Memories

Do Therapists Plant Memories?

Can False Memories be Created?– Elizabeth Loftus – associative memory illusion

Treatment Dissociative Amnesia & Fugue– Usually Improve on Their Own– Stress Reduction and Coping

Dissociative Identity Disoder– No Controlled Research– Treatments are Similar to PTSD