Dissociative Disorders
Definition
Dissociative disorders are a group of mental health disorders that cause disruptions or breakdowns of memory, consciousness, identity, and perception. These disturbances can range in severity from brief to chronic. Often, people with dissociative disorders experienced trauma early in life (such as physical or sexual abuse).
Dissociative disorders are treatable. The best hope of recovery is to seek effective treatment as early as possible. Treatment can include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Dissociative disorders are also referred to by the following terms:
- Multiple Personality Disorder
- Multiple Personality
- Dissociative Fugue/Amnesia
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
Key Things to Know About Dissociative Disorders
- Dissociative disorders occur when a person exhibits two or more distinct personality states, which are unable to communicate with each other.
- Dissociative disorders often develop as a way of coping with trauma.
- The five core components of Dissociative Disorders are Amnesia, Identity Confusion, Identity Alteration, Depersonalization, and Derealization.
Treatments Include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Medication