How overt or covert the personality states are depends on psychological motivation, stress level, cultural context, emotional resilience, and internal conflicts and dynamics (APA, 2022), and severe or prolonged stress may result in sustained periods of identify confusion/alteration. The key diagnostic criteria for dissociative identity disorder is the presence of two or more distinct personality states or an experience of possession (Criteria A). There are three main types of dissociative disorders: dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia, and depersonalization/derealization disorder. However, because of the identifiable stressor (and lack of additional symptoms listed below), they meet diagnostic criteria for a stress disorder as opposed to a dissociative disorder. Furthermore, individuals who suffer from acute stress disorder and PTSD often experience dissociative symptoms, such as amnesia, numbing, flashbacks, and depersonalization/derealization. Occasionally, one may experience temporary dissociative symptoms due to lack of sleep or ingestion of a substance however, these would not qualify as a dissociative disorder due to the lack of impairment in functioning. These symptoms are likely to appear following a significant stressor or years of ongoing stress (i.e., abuse Maldonadao & Spiegel, 2014). Describe how depersonalization/derealization presents.ĭissociative disorders are a group of disorders characterized by symptoms of disruption and/or discontinuity in consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, body representation, perception, motor control, and behavior (APA, 2022).Describe how dissociative amnesia presents.

Describe how dissociative identity disorder presents.Describe treatment options for dissociative disorders.Describe the etiology of dissociative disorders.Describe comorbidity in relation to dissociative disorders.Describe the epidemiology of dissociative disorders.Describe how dissociative disorders present.Be sure you refer Modules 1-3 for explanations of key terms (Module 1), an overview of models to explain psychopathology (Module 2), and descriptions of the various therapies (Module 3). Our discussion will consist of dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia, and depersonalization/ derealization. In Module 6, we will discuss matters related to dissociative disorders to include their clinical presentation, epidemiology, comorbidity, etiology, and treatment options.

Signs of dissociative amnesia