Psychiatric Disorders
Walter F. Stanaszek, Mary J. Stanaszek, Robert J. Holt, Steven Strauss in Understanding Medical Terms, 2020
Dissociative disorders include dissociative amnesia or fugue, formerly called psychogenic amnesia; dissociative identity disorder, formerly called multiple personality disorder; depersonalization disorder; and transient global amnesia. In the dissociative states, the patient dissociates himself from the stressful event through a fugue or multiple personality. Fugue is from the Latin for "flee" and is also used for a musical form that may be viewed as a flight. A fugue is a massive amnesia allowing the patient to flee all memory of the stressful event, but it often leaves the patient wandering aimlessly. Double or multiple personality also allows the patient to dissociate from the event by creating one or more separate identities with no ties to the stress.
Child Psychiatric Emergencies
R. Thara, Lakshmi Vijayakumar in Emergencies in Psychiatry in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, 2017
Dissociative disorders typically manifest as disruptions or a discontinuity in the normal functions of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Dissociative disorders may present with “positive” symptoms such as depersonalization, derealization, or fragmentation in the experience of identity, or subjective “negative” experiences, with loss of access or control over mental functions such as memory, resulting in dissociative amnesia (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Children and adolescents who experience traumatic events, including maltreatment, abuse, natural disasters, or war are at increased risk of dissociative disorders (American Psychiatric Association 2013; Shipman and Taussig 2009; Laor et al. 2002; Cagiada, Candido and Pennati 1997).
The Mother Who Couldn’t Name Her Child:
Paul Ian Steinberg in Psychoanalysis in Medicine, 2020
Mrs. X consulted a neurologist at the age of 15 because of dysarthria and memory problems, inability to understand the teachers or to concentrate on homework, and disorientation when getting off a bus. No neurological problems were found. Depression was diagnosed, but not further investigated or treated. This description of multiple symptoms not explained by a medical condition suggests that, as a teenager, Mrs. X likely was suffering from an unconscious conflict, unmet psychological needs, or unbearable emotions, or a combination of these, that could not be articulated, and were expressed by a variety of symptoms that often represent neurological conditions. They may have been symptoms of a conversion disorder. The description of an inability to concentrate and disorientation leave the impression that Mrs. X may have experienced some dissociative symptoms. A dissociative state is one involving disturbances or alterations in the normally integrated functions of identity, memory, and consciousness (Yager & Gitlin, 1995). These symptoms might have represented a dissociative disorder. They suggest a regression to a relatively primitive level of mental functioning, prior to a stage characterized by verbalization. With the benefit of hindsight, it would have been wise, especially as Mrs. X was diagnosed with depression, to have her assessed by a psychoanalytically informed clinician, so an appropriate form of psychotherapy could be recommended. It seems likely that Mrs. X’s needs were not met by her parents and medical caregivers at the time.
Dissociative Symptoms are Highly Prevalent in Adults with Narcolepsy Type 1
Published in Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 2022
Laury Quaedackers, Hal Droogleever Fortuyn, Merel Van Gilst, Martijn Lappenschaar, Sebastiaan Overeem
Over the past two decades, studies have increasingly shown a relationship between disordered sleep and dissociation (Koffel & Watson, 2009; Lynn et al., 2019; Selvi et al., 2015; Van Der Kloet et al., 2013; Van Der Kloet, Giesbrecht et al., 2012; Van Heugten-van Der Kloet et al., 2014). The American Psychiatric Association defines dissociation as “a disruption of the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception of the environment” (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Several pathologic dissociative symptoms can be distinguished. These include feeling like everything is unreal (derealization) and feeling disconnected from one’s body or feelings (depersonalization). In addition, they include amnesia for personal information or events that are too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness (dissociative amnesia). Dissociation may also lead to identity alteration; learning from others of activity of alternate identities, feeling possessed or controlled, and perceiving internal images and voices (identity alteration) (Korzekwa et al., 2009). The DSM-IV-TR lists four diagnoses under the category “dissociative disorder”: dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue (a sudden, unexpected travel away from one’s home with an inability to recall some or all of one’s past), depersonalization disorder, dissociative identity disorder. Dissociative disorder “not otherwise specified” refers to various forms of dissociation that are not fully covered by any of the specific dissociative disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2000)
Dissociation among individuals receiving cancer care: A scoping review
Published in Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 2022
Lisa S. Panisch, Jen Currin-McCulloch, Elle Covington
This study used a semi-structured qualitative interview to identify factors enhancing breast, cervical, and colon cancer screening adherence among adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse. Three of the women disclosed a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder, and provided how the diagnosis and symptoms negatively impacted their cancer screening experiences. Their experiences of different dissociative self-states becoming activated during the procedures and having to navigate among their competing perceptions and reactions, which affected their decision making. Participants with and without a formal diagnosis of a dissociative disorder reported using dissociative strategies in order to endure the procedure, difficulties trusting providers, and the benefits of trauma-informed providers, especially those with knowledge of dissociation and dissociative disorders.
Prognostic factors in non-organic hearing loss in children
Published in International Journal of Audiology, 2022
Christina Pflug, Saskia Kiehn, Jana-C. Koseki, Hans Pinnschmidt, Frank Müller, Julie C. Nienstedt, Till Flügel, Almut Niessen
The diagnosis belongs to the group of dissociative disorders if the discrepancies mentioned above occur. NOHL is classified as dissociative anaesthesia and sensory loss, according to the International Classification of Diseases (WHO.int 2019). In dissociative disorders, the symptoms are assumed to be of psychological origin, for instance, due to prolonged stress, unsolvable conflicts, disturbed relationships or trauma (WHO.int 2019). The patients themselves are convinced of their impaired hearing. In DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition™), it is specified as functional neurological disorder or conversion disorder.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
- Dissociative Amnesia
- Dissociative Fugue
- Episodic Memory
- Psychoactive Drug
- Dissociative Identity Disorder
- Dissociation
- Defence Mechanism
- Psychological Trauma
- Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder
- Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders