Dissociative Disorder

• Dissociative disorders are defined as conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity and/or perception.

Dissociative Disorder

• Can dissociation be normal in some situations?

• Yes... Reading a book or daydreaming.

Dissociative Disorder

• Dissociation becomes a disorder when individuals escape reality to try and cope with life.

Dissociative Amnesia

• Sudden loss of memory following a traumatic event. The disorder is psychogenic.

Dissociative Fugue

• Dissociative Fugue – forgetting one’s past life and taking on a new identity. It is also the result of psychological trauma.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

• Formerly called multiple identity disorder – involves the existence of two or more personalities within a single individual. Severe abuse in childhood is often a common trait.

• See http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Kim-Nobles-Judy-Personality-Video

Depersonalization Disorder

• Feelings of detachment from one’s mental processes or body – often preceded by a stressful event.