Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders
Dissociation is a mental process that causes a lack of
connection in a person’s thoughts, memory and sense of
identity. Dissociation seems to fall on a continuum of severity.
Mild dissociation would be like daydreaming, getting
“lost” in a book, or when you are driving down a
familiar stretch of road and realize that you do not remember the
last several miles. A severe and more chronic form of dissociation
is seen in the disorder Dissociative Identity Disorder, once called
Multiple Personality Disorder, and other Dissociative
Disorders.
How Common is Dissociation?
Transient and mild dissociative experiences are common. Almost
1/3rd of people say they occasionally feel as though they are
watching themselves in a movie, and 4% say they feel that way as
much as 1/3rd of the time. The incidence of these experiences is
highest in youth and steadily declines after the age of 20.
7% of the population may have suffered from a dissociative disorder
at some time. But these disorders are difficult to identify and may
go undiagnosed for many years.
Other Forms of Dissociation
Other dissociative disorders include “psychogenic
amnesia” (the inability to recall personally significant
memories), “psychogenic fugue” (memory loss
characteristic of amnesia, loss of one’s identity, and
fleeing from one’s home environment), and “multiple
personality” (the person has two or more distinct
personalities that alternate with one another. This is also known
as “Dissociative Identity Disorder” or “Multiple
Personality Disorder”).
Treatment
When dissociative experiences are the central, chronic, and
overwhelming problem, treatment usually demands long-term
individual psychotherapy. People with these disorders often have
good reasons to mistrust authority as well as a lifelong habit of
keeping secrets from themselves and others. A working alliance must
be established with an often demoralized and suspicious person who
believes the world is unjust or that he/she is an evil person.
Other Resources
The International Society for the Study of Dissociation,
847-480-0899
Sidran Institute, 410-825-8888 or 888-825-8249
For additional assistance on mental health issues or referrals,
contact your local Mental Health Association, community mental
health center or the NMHA Resource Center at 1- 800-969-6642
