SparkNotes: Psychological Disorders: Dissociative Disorders

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Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders are characterized by disturbances in consciousness, memory, identity, and perception.

Three kinds of dissociative disorders are dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, and dissociative identity disorder.

Dissociative Amnesia

The main feature of dissociative amnesia is an inability to remember important personal information, usually about something traumatic or painful. The memory loss is too extensive to be explained by normal forgetfulness.

Dissociative Fugue

People with dissociative fugue suddenly leave their homes and disappear unexpectedly. They do not remember their past and are confused about their identity. Sometimes, they may assume entirely new identities.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative identity disorder was formerly called “multiple personality disorder.” In this disorder, certain aspects of identity, consciousness, and memory are not integrated. People with dissociative identity disorder cannot remember important personal information and have two or more identities or personality states that control their behavior. Often, each of these identities has a separate name, personal history, set of characteristics, and self-image.

The Dissociative Identity Disorder Controversy

Dissociative identity disorder is a controversial diagnosis. Some psychologists believe that the disorder is very rare and that the increase in its prevalence since the 1980s is due to overdiagnosis. These theorists point out that the presentation of dissociative identity disorder often changes according to its representation in the media, such as in the book Sybil. Others have suggested that clinicians sometimes induce this disorder in highly suggestible people. Some psychologists, however, believe that dissociative identity disorder is not rare and has only been unrecognized and underdiagnosed in the past.

Etiology of Dissociative Disorders

Many researchers believe that severe stress plays a role in the onset of dissociative disorders. However, they cannot explain why only a small minority of people who experience severe stress develop such disorders.

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