Abstract This paper discusses dissociativedisorders and the types of behavior that are associated with dissociativedisorders. The paper first provides a short history on mental illnesses and defines dissociativedisorders. The paper then addresses the diagnostic methods for dissociativedisorders and also the syndromes that might surface. In addition, the paper gives several examples of dissociativedisorders such as dissociative fugue, depersonalization disorder and dissociative identity disorder. The paper also discusses several treatment methods for dissociativedisorders.
From the Paper "Before a person is said to have a mental disorder, he needs to be diagnosed to determine the factors that contributed to his or her present condition and to properly administer the necessary treatment. Dissociative disorders vary in their seriousness and the unexpectedness of occurrence. The gravity of illness may vary, depending on the person's exposure to events that may have triggered such disorder. Certain factors such as traumatic experiences can cause moderate or severe forms of dissociation. These traumatic memories such as physical torture, sexual and emotional abuse, frightening event like accident, and other forms of harassment are stored in the human brain differently as compared to the normal memories."
Abstract This paper provides an insight into dissociativedisorders and dissociative identity disorder (DID, or formerly called multiple personality disorder)and the separation of mental processes such as memory or consciousness that are normally integrated. It discusses how through the analysis of several findings and theories regarding dissociativedisorder, the close connection between development of dissociativedisorders and the self can be observed. It shows how the most significant implication might be that, in childhood, circumstances that create a conflict in the self undermine healthy development of the self and personalities and how in the worst cases, this conflict possibly leads to dissociativedisorders as intrafamilial abuse exemplifies.
From the Paper "Dissociative disorders have intrigued not only mental professionals but also the public with their extraordinary symptoms. In fact, there are a number of books and movies that deal with dissociative disorders such as the famous book by Thigpen and Cleckley (1957), ?The Three Faces of Eve,? which later became a motion picture. Dissociative disorders are characterized by "persistent, maladaptive disruptions in the integration of memory, consciousness, or identity" (Oltmanns & Emery, 2001). Due to the limited methodology to empirically test dissociative disorders, the entire concept of these psychological disorders is still controversial, and researchers can only offer theoretical ideas about how they work and are developed."
Abstract This research proposal examines the use of traditional five element acupuncture in the treatment of patients with severe chronic dissociativedisorders. It explains dissociativedisorders from the Western medical perspective and discusses the role played by the psyche and emotions in ancient Chinese medicine. The paper then looks at the Chinese view of dissociativedisorders in both historical and contemporary medical thinking and investigates the role of traditional five element acupuncture in the treatment of dissociativedisorders.
Table of Contents:
Aim
Objectives
Background
Preliminary Literature Review
Methodology
Research Strategy
From the Paper "Modern Chinese writings (in translation) will also be consulted. A brief literature search looking for information on the treatment of dissociative disorders using TCM and acupuncture has been carried out. It does appear that the problem of hysteria is recognised in China and treatment protocols are available (Garvey 2001). Adjunctive treatment approaches that incorporate acupuncture, though, must be carefully tailored to both the individual patient and to the stage of treatment (Goodwin & Attias). Indeed, a number of complementary and alternative medicine approaches to the treatment of dissociative disorders have emerged in recent years. Besides acupuncture, these alternative treatment modalities include body work, including exercise programs, massage, martial arts and techniques like rolfing; relaxation and meditation disciplines like yoga; movement and music therapies; psychodrama; wilderness therapy; sex therapy; and the art therapies, including use of drawing, sculpture and clay work, mask making, collage and sandtray work (which includes some elements from play therapy) (Goodwin & Attias). According to these authors, "All of these adjunctive modalities can lead to body flashbacks that must then be brought into the verbal therapy and translated and worked through at that level" (Goodwin & Attias, p. 174)."
This paper discusses various categories of dissociativedisorders: Dissociative Identity Disorder, Dissociative Amnesia, Dissociative Fugue and Depersonalization Disorder.
Abstract This paper explains that dissociation is a defense mechanism against trauma, which helps remove victims of trauma from the experience at the time when it occurs, allowing them to delay working through the trauma. The author points out that the cause of dissociative identity disorder is unknown, but histories of patients diagnosed with this disorder indicate that a commonality is a traumatic event such as childhood physical or sexual abuse, commonly incestuous, the death of a close relative or friend during childhood or witnessing a trauma or a death. The paper relates that the symptoms of dissociative amnesia and fugue tend to disappear spontaneously; therapy can focus on the stressful factors, which may trigger an episode, or on treating accompanying depressive states.
Table of Contents
Categories
Dissociative Identity Disorder History
Description
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)
Etiology
Psychodynamic Perspective
Behavioral Perspective
Treatment
Dissociative Amnesia
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)
Types of Dissociative Amnesia
Etiology
Dissociative Fugue
Etiology
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)
Treatment of Dissociative Amnesia and Fugue
Depersonalization Disorder Etiology
Diagnostic Criteria (DSM-IV)
Treatment
From the Paper "Different parts of the personality are alternately allowed to be expressed or remain repressed at any one time. They cannot coexist due to the intense anxiety that would result. Therefore, each is sealed off from the others. You might think of a rock being split in many pieces and each separate piece forming its own space that becomes sealed off from the other pieces. It is believed that the split occurs because the child who is exposed to a traumatic event and unable to escape dissociates and takes on other personalities to cope with the pain. It is also believed that person's who are susceptible to hypnosis are more likely to develop this disorder when exposed to severe trauma."
Abstract The paper provides a Summary of the movie "Fight Club" and analyzes the main character's symptoms that suggest he suffers from a mental illness. The paper explores the signs, symptoms and diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder as well as its causes and the treatments available for this disorder.
Outline:
Summary of the Movie "Fight Club
Diagnosis of the Character's Mental Illness
Signs and Symptoms and Diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder Causes of Dissociative Identity Disorder Treatment of Patients with DissociativeDisorders
From the Paper "This movie is about a man who is caught up with his own demons. He is an ordinary man working for an insurance company. His job entailed him to travel around the country, being enslaved by his work. He was caught up in a stressful life where he breathed nothing else but work. He was always tired, unable to sleep for days. He was caught in his condominium-enclosed life of consumerism. He became enslaved by buying appliances and furniture, and during the day, he worked and did what he was told by his boss. He sought help from the doctor for his sleeplessness, and the doctor advised him to attend a Prostate Cancer Group, where the gist of the story begins. He began to attend self-help groups, and by attending these, he was able to find solace. He was able to sleep, and was able to let out his built-in emotions. He became addicted to this kind of living."
Abstract This paper analyzes and reviews three articles about dissociative personality disorder in order to consider how the conceptual framework for this disorder has changed over the last 50 years. The three articles were read carefully and summarized for basic themes, definitions, and differences. The first article entitled "Multiple Personality Disorder" by W.S. Taylor and M.F. Martin, written in 1944, was one of the first works on this disorder. The next article, "The Osiris Complex," by Colin A. Ross, describes the condition as growing out of childhood abuse and psychological trauma. The third article, titled "Multiple Personality Disorder: Witchcraft Survives in the Twentieth Century," by August Piper, Jr points out some troublesome aspects of the illness, which include more alternate personalities than earlier researchers believed could exist. The reviewer concludes by stating that todays view of dissociative identity disorder is one personality divided into abnormally personified components.
From the Paper " An article titled "Multiple Personality Disorder" written in 1944 by Taylor & Martin was located for comparison to two articles written more recently, "The Osiris Complex: Case Studies in Multiple Personality Disorder" (Ross, 2000) and "Multiple Personality Disorder: Witchcraft Survives in the Twentieth Century" (Piper, 1998). The 1944 article is frequently cited in articles written since 1980 and is considered a seminal work. Because two strands of thought regarding the disorder exist today, it was necessary to compare the old article to two contrasting concepts as articulated in the two more recent articles. The three articles were read carefully and summarized for basic themes, definitions, and differences."
This paper discusses disorders regarding the mechanism of dissociation, in which the mind separates or compartmentalizes certain unpleasant or painful memories or thoughts from normal consciousness.
Abstract In this article, the writer explains that dissociation is a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception of the environment. The writer discusses that dissociativedisorders interfere with a person's general functioning, including social relationships and work. In this paper, the writer focuses attention on the phenomenon of dissociate identity disorder (D.I.D.). The writer discusses causes of D.I.D. and possible responses. Further, the writer looks at related treatment or therapy.
From the Paper "The human brain stores traumatic memories differently from normal memories. Traumatic memories are dissociated or separated and can break into consciousness without warning and the person cannot control these memories. They do not combine with normal memories and, in time, these traumatic ones can change one's personality and develop dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder. Dissociative identity disorder or D.I.D. has several levels of severity and begins suddenly. It is a new phenomenon in the US and, as such, is often misdiagnosed. D.I.D. is considered the most severe form of all dissociative disorders. Causes of D.I.D. include an innate ability to dissociate easily, repeated and sever physical or sexual abuse in childhood, lack of supportive person who counteracts the abuse, and the influence of other relatives who already have the disorder or its symptoms."
This paper discusses disorders regarding the mechanism of dissociation, in which the mind separates or compartmentalizes certain unpleasant or painful memories or thoughts from normal consciousness.
Abstract In this article, the writer explains that dissociation is a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception of the environment. The writer discusses that dissociativedisorders interfere with a person's general functioning, including social relationships and work. In this paper, the writer focuses attention on the phenomenon of dissociate identity disorder (D.I.D.). The writer discusses causes of D.I.D. and possible responses. Further, the writer looks at related treatment or therapy.
From the Paper "The human brain stores traumatic memories differently from normal memories. Traumatic memories are dissociated or separated and can break into consciousness without warning and the person cannot control these memories. They do not combine with normal memories and, in time, these traumatic ones can change one's personality and develop dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder. Dissociative identity disorder or D.I.D. has several levels of severity and begins suddenly. It is a new phenomenon in the US and, as such, is often misdiagnosed. D.I.D. is considered the most severe form of all dissociative disorders. Causes of D.I.D. include an innate ability to dissociate easily, repeated and sever physical or sexual abuse in childhood, lack of supportive person who counteracts the abuse, and the influence of other relatives who already have the disorder or its symptoms."
Abstract The paper explains that dissociative identity disorder is a psychological condition in which traumatic memories become disconnected from a person's normal awareness, or consciousness, thereby shielding the person from the pain or fear associated with the trauma. The paper explains that it causes the individual to experience her psyche/identity as disconnected or split into distinct parts. The paper lists the recognized types of dissociativedisorders and the most common symptoms.
From the Paper "Dissociative disorders are uncommon, affecting an estimated 1 percent to 2 percent of the population. This kind of disorder affects females more often than males and most often begin whenever the abuse or traumatic event occurred (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2800/2819.asp?index=9786&src=news, 2002). Many have tried to give a full and much detailed definition on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), because there have been an increasing number of reported cases of this 'illness'."
Abstract This paper analyzes whether dissociative identity disorder (DID), also known by its older designation to lay people as multiple personality disorder (MPD) or split personality, really exists. It discusses the disease's diagnosis and pathogenesis and the problems with differential diagnoses. The paper suggests that the diagnosis of DID should be guarded, preferably made as a diagnosis of exclusion. The paper also contains an annotated bibliography.
From the Paper "However, Merckelbach, Devilly and Rassin's review of the alters in DID effectively challenge the prevailing support for DID in calling into question the very nature of the claimed multiple personality. The authors sought a better definition of the multiple identities associated with DID. They assert that, as opposed to unconvincing evidence of the existence of alters ranging from acceptance due to their mutually exclusive memories to distinct documented physiological profiles (fMRI, EEG), these personalities can alternately be seen as emotional metaphors and escapist thought (Merckelbach, Devilly and Rassin 486-490). Needless to say, there is very little consensus among the psychiatric community on what the alters actually are, in large part due to the lack of a control group and a further lack of knowledge regarding memory function (Merckelbach, Devilly and Rassin 492). Furthermore, their research supports the claim in showing that there can be no absolutely reliable diagnosis of DID because the "personalities" themselves cannot be proven to be real alter-identities."
Abstract This paper presents a diagnostic assessment of Hannibal Lecter as a patient. It first describes his presenting problem and social history. The paper then discusses the diagnosis of dissociativedisorder for Lecter and describes the treatment options that are available. It specifically focuses on a combination of imagery-based techniques, cognitive restructuring, self-control procedures and real-life performance-based techniques.
Table of Contents:
Presenting Problem
Social History
Diagnosis
Treatment
From the Paper "Real-life performance-based techniques are frequently used in settings such as institutions and prisons (Mandery, 2005), therefore this treatment, combined with the above will probably be very successful with the patient. Dr. Chilton appears to have used a form of this therapy on the patient, however in the negative sense: Dr. Chilton dealt punishment for bad behavior, however, good behavior or cooperation was not rewarded. The reverse of Dr. Chilton's approach will likely be successful treatment with Dr. Lecter. If he cooperates and shows improvement in his behavior, he will be rewarded with a small token such as a new book, special meal, etc. will rely on a psychiatric aide to ensure that the patient's behavior and rewards are monitored, to ensure direct contact with the patient. Although Dr. Lecter may attempt to manipulate the situation to get rewards, the fact that through manipulation he is changing his behavior is positive because his behavior permanently change in the process."
Abstract This paper explains that Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) is also known as DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder). The author points out, after review five articles, that the basic issue is whether or not the syndrome is real, or simply a figment of psychologists' interests.
Abstract This paper presents a general overview and discussion of the psychological disorders known as Conduct Disorder and Antisocial Disorder. The paper presents definitions of both disorders and discusses several aspects associated with these disorders including diagnosis, prevalence, general etiology, risk factors, genetic and biological causes, symptoms of each disorder and need for interventions.
From the Paper "This research paper presents conduct disorder and antisocial disorder. Related to conduct disorder the following are discussed: definition, diagnosis, prevalence, general etiology and risk factors, genetic and biological causes and risk factors, disorder onset as a risk factor, familial and racial risk factors, childhood risk behaviors, developmental progression, course and consequences and assessment, treatment and forensic issues. Related to antisocial disorder the following are discussed: definition, diagnosis, prevalence, general etiology and risk factors, genetic and biological causes and risk factors..."
This paper analyzes and examines anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder, including treatments available and recommendations for improving the awareness of these disorders.
Abstract Anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder are two of the most devastating psychological illnesses. Providing a concise and detailed overview of the various types of anxiety disorders and the different stages of bipolar disorder, as well as a discussion of treatment options, the author argues that while improvements have been made to the treatment and understanding of these illnesses, further improvements are necessary, including the integration of drug therapy and psychotherapy.
From the Paper "Despite the increasing awareness, education, knowledge, treatment, and understanding of psychological disorders, there is still no clear-cut, quick fix, and uniform method available to diagnose and/or eliminate (or at least reduce) mental illnesses and psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders and bipolar disorder are two of the most common mental illnesses that prevent an individual from functioning normally. While most individuals may arguably prefer to remain ignorant of the existence of anxiety disorders and/or bipolar disorder, the fact is that more than 23 million individuals suffer from anxiety disorders (Harvard, 1) while more than 3 million individuals suffer from bipolar disorder (Hollandsworth)."
A detailed essay covering the diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, prevention and prognosis of each pervasive developmental disorder such as autism, Rett syndrome, etc.
Abstract A paper which covers the main points of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, including autism, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Asperger's syndrome, and 'pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified' (PDDNOS). The treatment, prevention, diagnosis, signs and symptoms, and treatment of each disorder is covered.
Table of Contents:
Asperger's Syndrome
What is Asperger's Syndrome?
Characteristics & Diagnosis
Diagnostic Criteria
Treatment
Autistic Disorder What is Autism?
Causes, Incidence, Risk Factors
Prevention
Diagnosing Autism
Treatment
Prognosis
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder What is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder?
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnostic Criteria
Causes, Incidence, Other Risk
Prevention
Diagnosis
Signs and Tests
Prognosis
Treatment
Monitoring the Condition
Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified
What is PPDNOS?
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Rett Syndrome
What is Rett Syndrome?
Causes, Incidence
Diagnosis
Signs and Tests
Treatment
Prognosis
What we learned?
Bibliography
From the Paper "Early diagnosis and appropriate educational programs are very important to children with autism or PDD. Public Law 105-17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), includes autism as a disability category. From the age of three, children with autism and PDD are eligible for an educational program appropriate to their individual needs. Educational programs for students with autism or PDD focus on improving communication, social, academic, behavioral, and daily living skills. Behavior and communication problems that interfere with learning sometimes require the assistance of a knowledgeable professional in the autism field who develops and helps to implement a plan which can be carried out at home and school."
