Dissociative Disorders: Amnesia, Identity, and Fugue
This paper provides an introductory overview of three major dissociative disorders: dissociative amnesia, dissociative identity disorder (DID), and dissociative fugue. Dissociative disorders share a common feature of psychological disconnection from reality and typically emerge from acute trauma. The paper outlines the defining symptoms, typical onset patterns, and primary treatment approaches for each disorder, drawing on sources including the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Merck Manual, and WebMD. It also notes the DSM-5 reclassification of dissociative fugue as a subtype of dissociative amnesia rather than a standalone diagnosis.
- Introduction to Dissociative Disorders: Overview of dissociative disorders and prevalence
- Dissociative Amnesia: Symptoms, episodes, and treatment of amnesia
- Dissociative Identity Disorder: DID symptoms, causes, and treatment approaches
- Dissociative Fugue: Fugue symptoms, DSM-5 reclassification, treatment
- Conclusion: Brief closing remarks on dissociative disorders
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper efficiently organizes three distinct disorders into clearly labeled sections, making it easy for readers to locate and compare information.
- Each section follows a consistent structure—definition, symptoms, and treatment—giving the paper a logical and readable flow.
- The inclusion of the DSM-5 reclassification of dissociative fugue adds a current clinical dimension and demonstrates awareness of evolving diagnostic standards.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates categorical comparison, grouping related clinical conditions under a shared framework (dissociative disorders) and systematically addressing each along the same analytical dimensions: etiology, symptomatology, and treatment. This is a foundational technique in health and psychology writing, especially useful for survey-level papers.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief epidemiological and conceptual introduction to dissociative disorders as a category. It then devotes a section to each of the three disorders—dissociative amnesia, dissociative identity disorder, and dissociative fugue—before closing with a short reference list. The structure is descriptive and parallel, suited to an introductory undergraduate psychology or health course.
Introduction to Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative disorders represent a collection of conditions that share a common element: psychological disruption characterized by a disconnection or break from reality. These disorders can include disruptions in awareness, memory, identity, or perception, among others. Most develop out of some form of acute psychological trauma. The total population of people with dissociative disorders is estimated at 2%, with women being more likely than men to receive a diagnosis. Almost half of adults in the United States experience at least one depersonalization or derealization episode in their lives, with only 2% meeting the full criteria for chronic episodes (National Alliance on Mental Illness, n.d.). This paper provides a brief introduction to three specific disorders within this category.
Dissociative Amnesia
The primary symptom of dissociative amnesia is difficulty recalling information about oneself. Generally, dissociative amnesia surrounds a specific event or trauma and can last anywhere from minutes to years (National Alliance on Mental Illness, n.d.). Any individual may experience multiple episodes of this disorder across their lifetime, and there is no average age of onset. Characteristically, patients diagnosed with dissociative amnesia experience one or more episodes in which they forget some or all of the events that occurred during a period of time; these gaps in memory can represent only a few hours or can encompass years (The Merck Manual, n.d.).
Once patients experience an amnestic episode, they may become confused, distressed, or possibly indifferent to the memory gap. Others are not even aware that they are missing memories and do not seek further treatment. This condition is commonly treated through psychotherapy, cognitive therapy, medication, family therapy, creative therapies, hypnosis, or some combination of these methods. The objective is to relieve symptoms and manage problem behaviors (WebMD, n.d.).
References
Dryden-Edwards, R. (2014, October 10). What are the treatment methods for dissociative identity disorder? Retrieved from Medicinenet.com: http://www.medicinenet.com/dissociative_identity_disorder/page5.htm
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Dissociative disorders. Retrieved from NAMI: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Dissociative-Disorders
Psych Central Staff. (n.d.). Dissociative fugue symptoms. Retrieved from Psych Central: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/dissociative-fugue-symptoms/
Psychology JRANK. (n.d.). Fugue — Causes and symptoms, diagnosis, treatment. Retrieved from Psychology JRANK: http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/262/Fugue.html
The Merck Manual. (n.d.). Dissociative disorder. Retrieved from The Merck Manual:
WebMD. (n.d.). Mental health center. Retrieved from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
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