What are the different types of dissociative disorders? A Brief Overview

A Quick Guide

Dissociative disorders involve a disconnection between thoughts, actions, feelings, memories, or a sense of self. Common symptoms include feeling detached from reality, memory loss, and experiencing alternate identities. These disorders are often caused by trauma, especially in childhood, and are more prevalent in women. The main types of dissociative disorders are Dissociative Identity Disorder (multiple personality disorder), Dissociative Amnesia, and Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder. In this article, we will discuss these types along with their signs and symptoms.

What are dissociative disorders? 

Dissociative disorders as the name suggests are characterized as having a disconnection between a person’s thoughts, actions, feelings, memories, or sense of self. A person may be affected differently based on the different types of dissociative disorders they may have. 

These disorders can cause an immense disruption in a person’s life and be hard to deal with. However, having a strong support system and getting the right treatment can help a person cope better. 

What are some common symptoms of dissociative disorders? 

Some common symptoms include being detached from reality, your self or those around you. Memory loss or gap is common as well. A person may feel that they are unable to control their actions and are simply watching their lives play out like a movie. On the other hand, a person may experience alternate identities as well depending on the type of dissociative disorder they have. 

What are the causes of dissociative disorders?

Dissociative disorders typically arise as a result of exposure to trauma. 

Children who have experienced long-term physical, sexual, or emotional abuse are more likely to develop these disorders. Whereas, children who live in stressful or unstable homes may also have a rare tendency to develop the disorders. 

Dissociative disorders can also develop as a result of a person’s environment such as being a survivor of war or some natural disaster.

The theory behind it is that some events in our lives are so traumatic that we use dissociation as a coping mechanism in order to survive. 

Who is more at risk for these disorders? 

Approximately 2% of the whole population of the US has been estimated to have actual dissociative disorders regardless of their age group, socioeconomic, or ethnic background. Though statistically speaking, these disorders are more prevalent in women than men. 

What are the types of Dissociative disorders? 

There are three main types of dissociative disorders which we will discuss ahead briefly.

1. Dissociative Identity Disorder DID
2. Dissociative Amnesia
3. Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Though there are certain other disorders such as Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD and acute stress disorder that share the same symptoms like memory loss, depersonalization, etc with these dissociative disorders. Hence, it is important to identify them clearly for the correct treatment.

Dissociative Identity Disorder

This disease, which was formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is characterized by “switching” to different identities. 

A person might experience more than two different identities each with a distinct name, background, and personality traits, such as voice, gender, habits, and even physical traits like the requirement for eyeglasses. 

Additionally, there are variations in how each identity is acquainted with the others. For instance, a person may or may not be aware that they have these different identities. And when they “switch” they may not retain any memories. 

Dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue are also common among those with dissociative identity disorder.

Dissociative amnesia

This disorder is basically characterized as memory loss that is significantly more severe than ordinary forgetfulness and is not due to a medical condition. Especially after a traumatic experience, it is impossible to remember details about oneself, events, or individuals in one’s life. 

A person may forget specific past experiences, such as violent conflict, or, at times it can involve total loss of memories.

Sometimes a person may travel or aimlessly wander away from their life which is termed as dissociative fugue. Amnesia episodes typically start out abruptly and might linger for minutes, hours, or, in rare cases, months or even years.

Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

This disorder is characterized by the following:  

Having a persistent or episodic sense of being detached from or apart from yourself and viewing your actions, feelings, ideas, and self as if you were watching a movie that is depersonalization.

The world may look surreal, time may seem to have sped up or slowed down, and other people and objects around you might seem distant, foggy, or dreamy which is derealization.

Depersonalization, derealization, or both may occur in a person. Symptoms may last only a few moments or come and go over many years and can be quite distressing. 

We hope you found this article useful in developing a basic understanding of different types of dissociative disorders.