Dissociative Disorders: Types & Treatments

Four main types of dissociative disorders are currently identified and recognized by the psychiatric community. While certain symptoms are common between each type, each disorder has its own specific dissociative signs not shared with the other three. These disorders can also be comorbid with other mental illnesses and conditions, including one or more of the other dissociative disorders. Patients with any of the four types may experience loss of memory, detachment, anxiety, depression, and a distorted sense of one’s self or of others.

The first type is called “Dissociative Amnesia”. While all four disorders may involve some degree of memory loss, Dissociative Amnesia is characterized by a loss of memory that is atypical. Sometimes this amnesia will occur directly after a traumatic event, but more often the memory loss will not be noticed until later, so the cause of the amnesia may not be readily apparent. Sufferers may not be able to recall events or people during a certain period of time after a trauma.

An illness which is frequently comorbid with the amnesia described above is “Dissociative Identity Disorder”, also known as DID. This disorder was previously referred to as “Multiple Personality Disorder“. With DID, a person may take on several completely disparate personalities to respond to different circumstances, particularly in times or situations of great stress. While it is not always the case, these alternate personalities can be so unlike the person’s true identity that they may have singular voices, dissimilar memories or even be of the opposite gender from the person’s actual physical sex.

The third dissociative condition is known as “Dissociative Fugue” which shares characteristics of both the two aforementioned conditions. A person suffering from this disorder may suddenly leave his or her life and take up a new identity in the new surroundings – for hours or even months – before just as suddenly returning to their senses, usually without any recall of the events that took place within the fugue state and without knowing how they came to be in the new place.

Finally, there is “Depersonalization Disorder”. This condition causes a person to feel detached, as though they are watching themselves from a removed distance, almost as if they were merely watching a character on television. The lines of reality may be blurred, and objects, other people or even time itself may seem to stretch out of proportion. Depersonalization can be momentary or it can occur off and on throughout a patient’s lifetime.

Treatment for any of the four  dissociative disorders most likely will include psychiatric counseling of some kind. Therapy can help a person trace the origins of their condition and find better ways to cope. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps a dissociative person replace negative responses with positive ones. Another way to manage these dissociative disorders is  using creative arts therapy, where a person who has trouble articulating their feelings may instead use some form of artistic expression, like sculpture or poetry. Treatment may consist of medications such as anti-anxiety medications or anti-depressants.