Dissociative amnesia, Dissociative Fugue, DID By:Roger Ibarra Brandon Fuentes Tawhid Akbar Michael Ditamo Allison Lafferty Gustov Sjobeck

Dissociative amnesia Sympotoms The predominant disturbance is one ore more episodes of inability to recall important personal information usually of a traumatic or stressful nature that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociative Fugue, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, or Somatization Disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug abuse, a medication) or a neurological or other general medical condition )e.g. Amnestic Disorder Due to Head Trauma). The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Dissociative amnesia causes Dissociative amnesia has been linked to overwhelming stress, which might be the result of traumatic events—such as war, abuse, accidents or disasters—that the person has experienced or witnessed. There also might be a genetic link to the development of dissociative disorders, including dissociative amnesia, since people with these disorders usually have close relatives who have had similar conditions.

Dissociative amnesia treatment Psychotherapy is the primary treatment for dissociative disorders. This form of therapy, also known as talk therapy, counseling or psychosocial therapy, involves talking about your disorder and related issues with a mental health provider. Your therapist will work to help you understand the cause of your condition and to form new ways of coping with stressful circumstances. Psychotherapy for dissociative disorders often involves techniques, such as hypnosis, that help you remember and work through the trauma that triggered your dissociative symptoms. The course of your psychotherapy may be long and painful, but this treatment approach often is very effective in treating dissociative disorders. Other Dissociative disorder treatment may include: Creative art therapy. Cognitive therapy. Medication. Although there are no medications that specifically treat Dissociative disorders, your doctor may prescribe antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications or tranquilizers to help control the mental health symptoms associated with Dissociative disorders

Dissociative Fugue Symptoms DSM IV The predominant disturbance is sudden, unexpected travel away from home or one’s customary place of work, with inability to recall one’s past. Confusion about personal identity or assumption of a new identity (partial or complete) The disturbance does not occur exclusively during the course of Dissociative Identity Disorder and is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g. temporal lobe epilepsy). The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupation, or other important areas of functioning. SYMPTOMS Rare cases: the person affected may take on new identities, trying to relieve themselves from the past events that had occurred. Confusion/distress Amnesia (of their previous identity) Inability to recall past events or even loved ones Forgetfulness of important information beyond regular forgetfulness

Dissociative Fugue Causes Associated with severe stress and (or) trauma. NOT CAUSES!!! Physical trauma (such as a hit to the head) Drugs or alcohol Any other physiological means

Dissociative Fugue Treatment Therapy Psychotherapy Hypnosis is helpful for it allows relief from stressful memories, and heal for a healthy future.

Dissociative Identity Disorder(DID) Symptoms The presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states (each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self). At least two of these identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person’s behavior. Inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., blackouts or chaotic behavior during alcohol intoxication) or a general medical condition (e.g., complex partial seizures). Note: In children the symptoms are not attributable or imaginary playmates or other fantasy play.

DID Causes -It is seen by both psychoanalytic and learning perspectives that DID develops as a way for the mind to deal with anxiety. -Psychoanalysts view it as a defense against the anxiety caused by the eruption of unacceptable impulses, while learning theorists see it as more of a learned behavior because of the anxiety reduction. -Others view DID as a post-traumatic disorder, since 11 out of 12 were subject to severe childhood abuse. -Overall, multiple personalities appear to be the desperate efforts of the traumatized to detach from a horrific existence.

DID Treatment -Oddly enough, Dissociative Identity Disorder is almost exclusive in North America, with other countries having distinctly lower percentages. DID is nearly nonexistent in countries like India and Japan. -Some skeptics believe that DID has become what is known as a “cultural phenomenon”- a disorder created by therapists in a particular social context. -Thus, DID may simply be the result of vulnerable patients beginning to live the fantasy that the therapist sets up for them, “manufacturing” the disorder when there really was not one in the first place. -One important question remains, however. Skeptics also wonder why children of the Holocaust, despite undergoing incredibly traumatic events, did not develop DID. This adds to the idea that the dissociative disorder may be the result of fantasy-prone patients.