Research has shown that dissociative disorders are a result of trauma, especially childhood abuse. One current theory that attempts to explain these disorders, in light of this knowledge, is that of self-hypnosis theory. This theory basically claims that of those individuals exposed to abuse some are highly hypnotizable, so they somehow hypnotize themselves. The paradigm, therefore, does follow a diathesis-stress model in that the vulnerability is the characteristic of "easily hypnotizable," and the triggering, stressful event is sexual/physical abuse. In addition to this theory, many scientists believe that dissociative disorders, especially multiple personality disorder, are a result of state-dependent learning. Individuals in this category then, through repeated state of trauma, disassociation, and consciousness, begin to develop separate, complete and autonomous memory systems, which ultimately lead to the development of different personalities with their own specific state of consciousness. Support for this theory comes from studies that indicate that events or information that is learned by one personality cannot explicitly be recalled by another personality, though, implicitly, there seems to be communication across personalities. Finally, many socio-cultural theorists believe that dissociative disorders may be a manufacture or result of treatment itself. The patient, possibly because he or she is highly susceptible to suggestion, assumes a social role that attempts to please the therapist and meet the therapist's expectations. Encouraged by the leading questions of the therapist and eager and willing to please--and not as a result of their own coping and defense mechanisms--the individual's production of a dissociative state, therefore, is a type of iatrogenesis.

A central focus of intervention for dissociative disorders has been encouraging individuals to recount past traumatic events. The logic concerning this form of treatment is that since these disorders are caused by some overwhelmingly traumatic event, expression and coping with the past will lead to recovery. Thus such techniques, as in hypnosis, are used to integrate the trauma into conscious experience. In addition, therapists usually attempt to reintegrate the different personalities of dissociative identity disorder into a whole. Antipsychotic, antidepressant, and antianxiety drugs have been used as medication to reduce the distress of these individuals. Yet, systematic research concerning the efficacy of treatment has yet to find more information concerning the etiology of these disorders, and come to a better understanding of the processes of disassociation occurring between the conscious and unconscious.