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Dissociative Disorders

Justin O'Keefe, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • According to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), dissociative disorders are manifested by a disruption in the continuity of normal integration of conscious...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • All disorders share symptoms that cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other areas of functioning.

  • Dissociative identity disorder (300.14) (1)

    • Presence ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Individual psychotherapy plus behavior modification and, in selective cases, hypnotherapy (4)[A]

  • Adjuncts: group therapy, expressive art therapy, occupational and recreationa...

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

  • Self-hypnosis, relaxation exercises, guided imagery, mindfulness meditation

  • Encourage patients to become educated about their condition.

PROGNOSIS

  • Ranges from spontaneous im...

REFERENCES

1
American Psychiatric Association. Dissociative disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Ass...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Brand  B, Sar  V, Stavropoulos  P, et al. Separating fact from fiction: an empirical examination of six myths about dissociative identity disorder. Harv R...

CODES

ICD10

  • F44.9 Dissociative and conversion disorder, unspecified

  • F44.0 Dissociative amnesia

  • F44.1 Dissociative fugue

  • F44.81 Dissociative identity disorder

  • F44.89 Other dissociative and conversion disord...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Symptom stabilization and ego strengthening come before exploration of past trauma.

  • Pay attention to comorbidities and remember to treat those conditions as well.

  • Rule out the presence o...

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