Dissociative disorder

Dissociative disorders^[1] are defined as 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 300.6^[2]) - 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 300.12^[3]) (formerly Psychogenic Amnesia) - noticeable impairment of recall resulting from emotional trauma
• Dissociative fugue (DSM-IV Codes 300.13^[4]) (formerly Psychogenic Fugue) - 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 300.14^[5]) (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder) - the alternation of two or more distinct personality states with impaired recall, among personality states, of important information.

In addition, there is the diagnosis of dissociative disorder not otherwise specified (DSM-IV Codes 300.15^[6]) which can be used for forms of pathological dissociation not covered by any of the specified dissociative disorders.

See also

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

References

External links

• DSM IV TR classification of dissociative disorders (in the context of the whole classification system)