Dissociative disorders

Dissociative disorders [Dissociative Disorders, ( [http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=9696 DSM-IV, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition] )] are defined a conditions that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity and/or perception. The hypothesis is that symptoms can result, to the extent of interfering with a person's general functioning, when one or more of these functions is disrupted.

The four dissociative disorders listed in the DSM IV TR are as follows:
* Depersonalization disorder "(DSM-IV Codes 300.6Depersonalization Disorder, ( [http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=9816 DSM-IV 300.6, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition] )] )" - periods of detachment from self or surrounding which may be experienced as "unreal" (lacking in control of or "outside of" self) while retaining awareness that this is only a feeling and not a reality.
* Dissociative amnesia "(DSM-IV Codes 300.12Dissociative Amnesia ("formerly" Psychogenic Amnesia) ( [http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=9708 DSM-IV 300.12, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition] )] )" - noticeable impairment of recall resulting from emotional trauma
* Dissociative fugue "(DSM-IV Codes 300.13Dissociative Fugue ("formerly" Psychogenic Fugue) ( [http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=9744 DSM-IV 300.13, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition] )] )" - physical desertion of familiar surroundings and experience of impaired recall of the past. This may lead to confusion about actual identity and the assumption of a new identity.
* Dissociative identity disorder (DSM-IV Codes 300.14Dissociative Identity Disorder ("formerly" Multiple Personality Disorder) ( [http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=9776 DSM-IV 300.14, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition] )] )" - the alternation of two or more distinct personality states with impaired recall, among personality states, of important information.

In addition, there's the diagnosis of dissociative disorder not otherwise specified "(DSM-IV Codes 300.15Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ( [http://www.psychiatryonline.com/content.aspx?aID=9846 DSM-IV 300.15, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition] )] )" which can be used for forms of pathological dissociation not covered by any of the specified dissociative disorders.

In a 2007 study, only 28.7% of the dissociative participants had received psychiatric treatment previously [Prevalence of dissociative disorders among women in the general population ( [http://www.psy-journal.com/article/PIIS0165178106000084/ Departments of Psychiatry, Istanbul University and Cumhuriyet University Medical Faculty, Turkey, January 2007] )] .

ee also

* Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV
* Dissociation (psychology)
* Multiple personality controversy
* Dissociative identity disorder in fiction

References

External links

* [http://www.dpselfhelp.com/ Depersonalization Community] – Support site for those suffering from dissociative disorders.
* [http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/dsm4TRclassification.htm#Dissociative DSM IV TR classification] of dissociative disorders (in the context of the whole classification system)