Dissociative and Somatoform Disorders CH 8 Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative and Somatoform Disorders CH. 8

Dissociative Disorders Different parts of an individual’s identity, memories, or consciousness split off from one another Daydreaming as an example

Dissociative Disorders Dissociative Identity Disorder One person has separate, multiple personalities Alters may be created b/c of extreme stress, often child abuse. Self-hypnosis may be involved. Some evidence it runs in families Long-term psychotherapy and use of hypnosis to assist in “integration. ” Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs may be used Kim Noble- 20 Personalities http: //www. oprah. com/oprahshow/Introduction-to-Kim-Nobles. Multiple-Personalities-Video

Common Types of Personalities Child Alter: Young children Do not age as the individual ages May be created during a traumatic event experienced by the “host” When alter is out, individual will perform in childlike ways Persecutor Alter: Inflict pain or punishment on other personalities Similar to self-mutilation May also partake in dangerous behaviors Believe they can harm other personalities without harming themselves

Common Types continued Helper Alter: Offers advice to other personalities Perform activities that host cannot perform Sometimes control the switching from one personality to another Or can act as passive observers

Sybil http: //www. hiddenpaintings. com/Hidden_Painting s. html

Dissociative Disorders Dissociative Fugue The person moves away and assumes a new identity, with amnesia for the previous identity. usually occur in response to some stressor, but because they are extremely rare, little is known Psychotherapy to help identify stressors leading to the fugue state and learn better coping skills http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=Qajub. Ds. Ccrw

Dissociative Disorders Dissociative Amnesia Person loses memory of important personal facts, including personal identity, for no apparent organic cause Typically occurs following traumatic events. Help the individual remember traumatic events and accept them

Dissociative Disorders Depersonalization Disorder People with this disorder have frequent episodes in which they feel detached from their own mental processes or bodies, as if they are outside observers of themselves.

Somatoform Disorders Somatoform and Pain Disorders Subjective experience of many physical symptoms, with no organic causes Conversion Disorder Loss of functioning in some part of the body for psychological rather than physical reasons Usually stressor is the onset (seizures, blindness, tics) Somatization Disorder History of complaints about physical symptoms, affecting many different areas of the body, for which medical attention has been sought but no physical cause found http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=8 q. Ho. XVMWALA

Somatoform Disorders Psychosomatic Disorders Actual physical illness present and psychological factors seem to be contributing Malingering Deliberate faking of physical symptoms to avoid an unpleasant situation, such as military duty

Somatoform Disorders Hypochondriasis Chronic worry that one has a physical disease in the absence of evidence that one does; frequently seek medical attention Factitious Disorder/by proxy Deliberate faking of physical illness to gain medical attention Munchausen’s Syndrome The Sixth Sense

Somatoform Disorders Body Dysmorphic Disorder Excessive preoccupation with some part of the body the person believes is defective http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=QMx. L 1 uv 9 Vh 0