How do OCD and dissociation relate. What are the common symptoms of OCD with dissociative features. How can dissociation impact OCD treatment outcomes. What therapeutic approaches are effective for managing both OCD and dissociation.

The Interplay Between OCD and Dissociation

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and dissociation are two distinct psychological phenomena that can often co-occur, creating a complex clinical picture. Understanding the relationship between these conditions is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

Dissociation refers to a disconnection between a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. This can manifest as feeling detached from oneself or one’s surroundings, experiencing a sense of unreality, or even developing distinct personality states.

Research has shown that individuals with OCD frequently experience dissociative symptoms. A study by Belli et al. (2012) found that 22.7% of OCD patients met the criteria for a dissociative disorder. This high comorbidity rate suggests a significant overlap between the two conditions.

Why do OCD and dissociation often co-occur?

• Shared risk factors: Both conditions are associated with childhood trauma and stress
• Coping mechanism: Dissociation may serve as a way to escape from overwhelming OCD symptoms
• Neurobiology: There may be shared neurological pathways involved in both OCD and dissociation
• Symptom overlap: Some OCD symptoms, like depersonalization, can be mistaken for dissociation

Recognizing Dissociative Symptoms in OCD Patients

Identifying dissociative symptoms in individuals with OCD is crucial for providing comprehensive care. Common dissociative experiences reported by OCD patients include:

• Depersonalization: Feeling detached from one’s body or mental processes
• Derealization: Perceiving the environment as unreal or dreamlike
• Identity confusion: Uncertainty about one’s sense of self
• Memory gaps: Difficulty recalling important personal information or events
• Time distortion: Losing track of time or experiencing time differently

Healthcare providers should be vigilant in screening for these symptoms, as they may not be readily apparent or reported by patients focused on their OCD symptoms.

How can clinicians effectively screen for dissociative symptoms in OCD patients?

Clinicians can use validated assessment tools such as the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) or the Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID) to screen for dissociative symptoms. Additionally, conducting thorough clinical interviews that explore potential traumatic experiences and asking specific questions about dissociative phenomena can help identify these symptoms.

The Impact of Dissociation on OCD Treatment Outcomes

The presence of dissociative symptoms can significantly influence the course and treatment of OCD. Research by Rufer et al. (2006) found that higher levels of dissociation were associated with poorer outcomes in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for OCD.

Several factors may contribute to this negative impact:

1. Reduced engagement: Dissociation can interfere with a patient’s ability to fully participate in therapy sessions
2. Memory impairment: Dissociative symptoms may hinder the retention and application of therapeutic strategies
3. Emotional dysregulation: Difficulty managing emotions can complicate exposure-based treatments
4. Avoidance: Dissociation may serve as an avoidance mechanism, reinforcing OCD patterns

How can therapists address dissociation to improve OCD treatment outcomes?

Therapists can employ several strategies to manage dissociation and enhance OCD treatment effectiveness:

• Psychoeducation: Educate patients about dissociation and its relationship to OCD
• Grounding techniques: Teach patients methods to stay present during therapy sessions
• Mindfulness practices: Incorporate mindfulness exercises to improve awareness and reduce dissociation
• Trauma-informed approach: Address underlying traumatic experiences that may contribute to both OCD and dissociation
• Pacing: Adjust the pace of therapy to accommodate dissociative symptoms

Innovative Treatment Approaches for OCD with Dissociative Features

Given the challenges posed by the co-occurrence of OCD and dissociation, researchers and clinicians have explored innovative treatment approaches to address both conditions simultaneously.

Can hypnosis be an effective adjunct therapy for OCD with dissociative symptoms?

Hypnosis has shown promise as a complementary treatment for OCD, particularly when dissociative symptoms are present. Meyerson and Konichezky (2011) proposed a technique called Hypnotically Induced Dissociation (HID) as a strategic intervention for enhancing OCD treatment. This approach leverages the patient’s ability to dissociate in a controlled, therapeutic context to facilitate exposure and response prevention exercises.

Frederick (2007) also explored the use of hypnosis in OCD treatment, suggesting that it can help patients manage anxiety, enhance cognitive flexibility, and improve overall treatment engagement. While more research is needed, these studies indicate that hypnosis may be a valuable tool in the treatment of OCD with dissociative features.

What other innovative approaches show promise for treating OCD with dissociation?

• Schema therapy: Addresses core beliefs and emotional patterns that may underlie both OCD and dissociation
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Can help process traumatic memories associated with both conditions
• Mindfulness-based CBT: Combines traditional CBT techniques with mindfulness practices to improve present-moment awareness
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focuses on accepting thoughts and feelings while committing to value-driven behaviors

The Role of Trauma in OCD and Dissociation

Trauma, particularly childhood trauma, plays a significant role in the development of both OCD and dissociative symptoms. Several studies have highlighted this connection:

• Belli et al. (2013) found that OCD patients with higher levels of childhood trauma reported more severe dissociative symptoms
• Selvi et al. (2012) demonstrated that childhood traumatic experiences were associated with both dissociation and dysfunctional cognitive models in OCD patients
• Semiz et al. (2014) suggested that trauma and dissociation might contribute to treatment resistance in OCD

How does addressing trauma improve outcomes for OCD patients with dissociative symptoms?

Incorporating trauma-focused interventions into OCD treatment can lead to several benefits:

1. Reduced dissociation: Processing traumatic experiences can decrease the need for dissociative coping mechanisms
2. Improved emotional regulation: Trauma-focused therapies often enhance emotional management skills
3. Increased self-awareness: Understanding the impact of trauma can help patients recognize and manage triggers
4. Enhanced treatment engagement: Addressing underlying trauma can improve overall therapy participation and outcomes

Neurobiological Insights into OCD and Dissociation

Advances in neuroscience have provided valuable insights into the biological underpinnings of both OCD and dissociation. While these conditions involve distinct neural circuits, there are also areas of overlap that may explain their frequent co-occurrence.

What brain regions are implicated in both OCD and dissociation?

Several key brain areas have been identified as relevant to both conditions:

• Prefrontal cortex: Involved in executive function, decision-making, and emotional regulation
• Anterior cingulate cortex: Plays a role in error detection, conflict monitoring, and emotional processing
• Amygdala: Central to fear and anxiety responses
• Hippocampus: Critical for memory formation and contextual learning

Research suggests that abnormalities in these regions and their interconnections may contribute to both OCD symptoms and dissociative experiences. For example, hyperactivity in the prefrontal cortex has been observed in OCD, while dissociation is associated with reduced activity in this area during emotional processing.

How do these neurobiological insights inform treatment approaches?

Understanding the shared neurobiological mechanisms of OCD and dissociation can guide the development of targeted interventions:

1. Neurofeedback: Training patients to regulate specific brain activity patterns
2. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS): Non-invasive brain stimulation to modulate neural circuits
3. Pharmacological approaches: Medications that target shared neurotransmitter systems
4. Cognitive training: Exercises designed to strengthen specific cognitive functions associated with affected brain regions

Assessing and Monitoring Dissociation in OCD Treatment

Given the potential impact of dissociation on OCD treatment outcomes, it is crucial to implement robust assessment and monitoring strategies throughout the therapeutic process.

What tools are available for assessing dissociation in OCD patients?

Several validated instruments can be used to assess dissociative symptoms in individuals with OCD:

• Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES): A widely used self-report measure of dissociative experiences
• Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID): A comprehensive assessment tool that captures various aspects of dissociation
• Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS): Focuses specifically on depersonalization and derealization symptoms
• Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20): Assesses physical manifestations of dissociation

These tools can be used in combination with OCD-specific measures to provide a comprehensive clinical picture.

How can clinicians effectively monitor dissociation throughout OCD treatment?

Ongoing monitoring of dissociative symptoms is essential for adapting treatment strategies and ensuring optimal outcomes. Clinicians can implement the following approaches:

1. Regular reassessment: Administer dissociation measures at predetermined intervals
2. Session check-ins: Begin each therapy session with a brief assessment of current dissociative experiences
3. Symptom diaries: Encourage patients to track dissociative symptoms alongside OCD symptoms
4. Collaborative goal-setting: Work with patients to establish targets for managing both OCD and dissociation
5. Multimodal assessment: Combine self-report measures with clinical observations and collateral information

By implementing these strategies, clinicians can tailor interventions to address fluctuations in dissociative symptoms and optimize treatment outcomes for individuals with OCD.

Future Directions in OCD and Dissociation Research

As our understanding of the relationship between OCD and dissociation continues to evolve, several promising areas of research emerge. These investigations have the potential to significantly advance our ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent the co-occurrence of these conditions.

What are some key areas for future research in OCD and dissociation?

• Longitudinal studies: Examining the long-term course of OCD with dissociative features
• Genetic research: Investigating shared genetic risk factors for OCD and dissociation
• Neuroimaging advances: Utilizing cutting-edge brain imaging techniques to map neural circuits involved in both conditions
• Personalized medicine: Developing tailored treatment approaches based on individual symptom profiles and biological markers
• Digital health interventions: Exploring the use of technology to monitor and manage symptoms in real-time
• Integrative treatment models: Creating comprehensive therapeutic approaches that address OCD, dissociation, and related conditions simultaneously

How might these research directions impact clinical practice?

Advancements in these areas could lead to several improvements in clinical care:

1. Enhanced diagnostic accuracy: More precise identification of OCD subtypes with dissociative features
2. Targeted interventions: Development of specific treatments for OCD patients with high levels of dissociation
3. Predictive models: Better ability to forecast treatment outcomes and tailor interventions accordingly
4. Prevention strategies: Identification of early risk factors and implementation of preventive measures
5. Improved pharmacological options: Development of medications that address both OCD and dissociative symptoms

As research in this field progresses, clinicians and patients alike can look forward to more effective, personalized approaches to managing the complex interplay between OCD and dissociation.

Dissociative symptoms and dissociative disorders comorbidity in obsessive compulsive disorder: Symptom screening, diagnostic tools and reflections on treatment

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OCD, Trauma, and Dissociation – ISSTD News

Jordan Arbelaez, ISSTD Publications Coordinator

The topic of June 2021’s publications of interests is obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and its role in the trauma response and related dissociative states. Multiple theories exist regarding the mechanisms at play in the complex psychological and physiological setting of OCD, trauma, and dissociation. The articles below explore psychological aspects including: emotional dysregulation, rumination, attachment, dissociation, and the posttraumatic stress symptoms characteristic of OCD, the contribution of environmental and interpersonal predictors on the long-term outcome of OCD, the role of the obsessive beliefs as predictors of the different dissociative symptom severities, and the role of attachment and attachment-related processes in context of treatment, and how attempts at cognitive control are impacted by fear-of-self vs. other-generated distractor thoughts.

Boger, S., Ehring, T., Berberich, G., & Werner, G. G. (2020). Impact of childhood maltreatment on obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom severity and treatment outcome. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1753942. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1753942

Background
Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with enhanced symptom severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. In order to improve treatment for CM survivors suffering from OCD, it is important to understand the psychological processes mediating the putative association between CM and OCD.

Method
The aim of the study was to investigate the role of emotion regulation difficulties, rumination, attachment, dissociation, and posttraumatic stress symptoms as potential mediators between CM and OCD symptom severity in a clinical sample of OCD patients (N = 68). Participants completed self-report questionnaires and standardized clinical diagnostic interviews while attending specialized inpatient treatment for OCD. To test hypothesis-based mediation models, mediation analyses were calculated using a regression-based approach.

Results
As predicted, all hypothesized factors were found to mediate the association between CM and OCD symptom severity. Additionally, more severe CM leads to increased difficulties in emotion regulation, anxiety in close relationships, rumination, dissociative symptoms, and posttraumatic symptoms, which subsequently leads to more severe OCD symptoms.

Conclusions
The findings point towards psychological processes that might be responsible for the well-studied relationship between CM and OCD. Implications for future research and clinical management of OCD in CM survivors are discussed.

Tibi, L., van Oppen, P., van Balkom, A., Eikelenboom, M., Hendriks, G. J. , & Anholt, G. E. (2020). Childhood trauma and attachment style predict the four-year course of obsessive compulsive disorder: Findings from the Netherlands obsessive compulsive disorder study. Journal of affective disorders, 264, 206–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2019.12.028

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic psychiatric disorder where most patients do not reach full symptomatic remission. Identifying predictors of course can improve patients’ care by informing clinicians on prognosis and enhancing treatment strategies. Several predictors associated with improved outcome of OCD were identified. However, research focused mainly on clinical, illness-related predictors of the course of OCD. This study examined the contribution of environmental and interpersonal predictors on the long-term outcome of OCD, in addition to the previously identified clinical indicators.                                               

*OPEN ACCESS* Pozza, A. , & Dèttore, D. (2019). “Was it real or did I imagine it?” Perfectionistic beliefs are associated with dissociative absorption and imaginative involvement in obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychology research and behavior management, 12, 603–607. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S212983

In the literature there are inconsistent data regarding the role of dissociation in OCD. No study explored the association between obsessive beliefs and dissociative symptoms in OCD. It is important to understand which clinical factors are related to dissociation in OCD as more severe dissociative symptoms, particularly absorption, have been found to be predictors of treatment non-response. In the present short report, we describe the results of an exploratory study aimed to investigate the role of the obsessive beliefs as predictors of the different dissociative symptoms controlling for anxiety and OCD severity in a group of OCD patients.

Doron, G. (2020). Self-vulnerabilities, attachment and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms: Examining the moderating role of attachment security on fear of self, Journal of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, 27, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocrd.2020.100575.

Recently, feared self-perceptions and attachment insecurities have been shown to be associated with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms and cognitions. In the current study, we examined the moderating role of attachment security in the form of low dispositional attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on the link between fear of self and OCD symptoms. Two hundred and thirty-nine community participants completed a battery of questionnaires online. Consistent with our hypothesis, the link between fear of self and OCD symptoms was moderated by dispositional attachment security. Specifically, participants showing high fear of self-tendencies, but scoring low on both dispositional attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance showed less OCD symptoms than participants with high fear of self but showing either high attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance. We discuss the role of attachment and attachment-related processes within the proposed theoretical model and explore its implications to our understanding of OCD symptoms and their treatment.                    

what it is, types, examples, treatment

Irina Postnikova

maintains integrity

Author’s profile

Sometimes, in difficult moments of life, people seem to lose touch with themselves.

There is a feeling that you are separated from your own body and stop feeling anything. Or that everything around is not reality, but someone’s evil fiction. Scientists call this state of dissociation. We talk about what it is in the next issue of the guide to the psyche.

In the previous issue: who is crash.

What is dissociation

Dissociation is a mental mechanism by which a person separates from his own feelings and experiences, and in some cases even from his own body. This leads to the feeling that certain events in his life are happening to someone else, and he himself is only an observer of them.

Modern psychology believes that dissociation is a natural tool for adapting the psyche. It is needed to reduce the damage from traumatic or stressful events. Often, a state of dissociation occurs in victims during beatings or rape; from fighting soldiers on the battlefield; those who have just learned about their fatal diagnosis or about the death of a loved one.

/psychological-trauma/

I don’t feel safe anywhere: what is psychological trauma

In such situations, dissociation helps to protect oneself from unbearable pain, not to lose the ability to act. And so – to increase your chances of surviving this moment with the least possible losses.

How dissociation can manifest itself:

• a person gets the feeling that he is someone else. Or that he does not exist at all, and everything that happens does not happen to him, but to some fictional character in a book or film;
• it may seem to a person that he has separated from his own body and is watching him from the side;
• the person seems to almost cease to feel physical pain or his emotions.
• at the physiological level, the heartbeat may increase, dizziness may begin;
• the perception of time changes: it seems to a person that it seems to slow down or, on the contrary, starts to go too fast.

Also, dissociation can appear in the following phrases:

• “It feels like all this is not happening to me”;
• “It seems to me that I stopped being myself for a while”;
• “It feels like I’m someone else”;
• “At that moment everything in me went numb and stopped feeling anything”;
• “I seemed to be watching myself from the side.”

Causes of dissociation

Although scientists believe that traumatic events: sexual, physical or emotional abuse experienced at any age, participation in hostilities, experiencing disasters, natural disasters, are the main cause of dissociations, there are others.

Use of psychoactive substances. Almost any of them in a sufficiently large dosage can cause a state of dissociation in a person. And sometimes this leads to problems, for example, it can increase the likelihood of developing mental disorders.

Mental disorders. Dissociation may be a separate symptom of anxiety, depressive, affective, obsessive-compulsive, borderline or post-traumatic stress disorder and eating disorders.

/obsessive-compulsive/

How I live with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Meditative practices. It is believed that a person who has managed to achieve a deep meditative state may temporarily lose contact with the reality surrounding him and even with his own body.

What is the danger of dissociation

Single cases of dissociation are useful. They protect the psyche from destructive stress. And in most cases they do not have negative consequences: the state of dissociation passes rather quickly and the person returns to reality.

But if the traumatic events are repeated frequently, the state of dissociation can become chronic. And over time, lead to the development of one of the dissociative disorders:

1. Dissociative identity disorder. It used to be called a split personality. Within a person lives several separate identities. Each of them can have their own gender, age, nationality, character, worldview and values. From time to time, a switch occurs between these personalities – and this makes a person behave in a way that was completely uncharacteristic of him before.
2. Depersonalization disorder. A person completely loses the sense of his own “I” and contact with his feelings and body. Everything that happens to him, he seems to be watching from the side, and it seems to him that he cannot influence it in any way.
3. Dissociative amnesia. A person loses memories of some events that happened to him. Usually traumatic.

But even if chronic dissociations have not turned into a disorder, they can still negatively affect a person’s life. They prevent him from learning other mechanisms for coping with stressful events. And learn to resolve conflicts, resist violence, defend your interests.

Treatment for dissociation

Only a psychiatrist can tell if you have a dissociative or similar mental disorder. Treatment can be quite long, but in many cases it is impossible to do without it, because otherwise dissociations can torment a person all his life. The most effective is considered to be a combination of medications and psychotherapy: cognitive-behavioral or related dialectical behavioral.

In addition, people with a tendency to frequent dissociations or with a diagnosed disorder are advised to stabilize their internal state as much as possible in everyday life. For example, eat regularly and fully, get enough sleep, be physically active, use all possible methods of dealing with stress.

/list/just-breathe/

How to Relax Quickly: 9 Breathing Practices

If you are aware of the specific triggers that cause you to dissociate, they are recommended to be avoided during treatment. And if this fails, try to use techniques to help bring yourself back to reality when the first symptoms appear.

For example:

1. Look around and count all the furniture – all the trees or books – that surround you.
2. Try to read something, concentrating as much as possible on the text. You can even start saying the lines aloud – as loudly as possible, listening to your own voice.
3. If possible, always carry something scented with you: a bottle of essential oil or a bottle of perfume. Take it out at the first sign of dissociation and inhale with all your might. If there is nothing at hand, try to detect the smell in your environment: washed clothes, fresh buns, wet earth, gasoline – and focus on it.
4. Call someone close and ask to speak to you.
5. Drink something noticeably warm or very cold.
6. Wash your face with cold water or apply ice to your face and neck.
7. Put your hands under a stream of warm water.
8. Do a couple of quick exercises, such as jumping, squatting, or running a little.
9. Inhale and exhale as slowly and deeply as possible several times.
10. Put on some music and make yourself dance.

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What is dissociative identity disorder?

Dissociative Identity Disorder is a mental disorder characterized by either having two or more personalities, or a state of disconnection from the outside world, one’s identity, and an inability to recall certain daily life events and important personal information. This disorder is often mistaken for depression, anxiety, or psychosis. Long before our days, this condition was called possession, and it was treated with exorcism. In the 19th century, this disorder was called hysteria, and in the 20th century it was called multiple personality disorder or multiple personality disorder.

Types of dissociative identity disorder

There are several types of dissociative disorders, which are characterized by different symptoms and manifestations. One of them is dissociative fugue, a disorder in which a person can find himself in a completely unfamiliar place and not remember how he got there. In this case, a person may forget some important information about himself and not even remember his name. At the same time, memory for some information, such as literature, science, and other things, can be preserved. In a state of fugue, a person assumes a different personality and identity with a different character, mannerisms and behavior. While in this identity, a person can lead an outwardly normal life. A dissociative fugue can last for hours or years. After that, a person may find himself in a completely unfamiliar place and at the same time not remember anything that happened to him in a state of fugue.

A person who has a dissociative disorder is actually suffering a lot from their condition.

Another type of dissociative disorder is the presence of several personalities in which a person finds himself in turn or simultaneously. At such moments, he disconnects from himself and stops feeling his own body, and also cannot see himself from the outside. Personalities within a person can have different ages, genders, nationalities, mental abilities, temperaments, and behave in completely different ways. Often these personalities can even have different physiological manifestations. For example, while in one personality, a person can see poorly and wear glasses, and in another, have excellent vision and walk without glasses or lenses (or think that he sees perfectly and does without glasses). Just as in the case of dissociative fugue, when switching, one person cannot remember what happened to the person during immersion in another.

Manifestations of dissociative identity disorder

This disease affects both children (adolescents) and adults and presents with similar symptoms. However, dissociative disorder with multiple personalities in adolescents is quite rare. In old age, dissociation practically does not develop. When a specialist suspects a person of dissociative identity disorder, he usually asks if it happened that the person suddenly found himself in some place and did not understand how he got there. Also, the patient may suddenly speak in a completely different voice, he may have a different handwriting. For example, a person who has one of his personalities as a child may suddenly begin to write in a child’s handwriting. Such phenomenal manifestations can be evoked in a patient suffering from dissociative personality disorder, and in a state of hypnosis. That is why the French psychiatrist Jean-Martin Charcot at one time mistakenly believed that hypnosis is a pathological condition that causes hysteria and the manifestation of multiple personalities. However, later it turned out that hypnosis is only superficially similar to dissociative personality disorder, but does not cause it, and the disease itself develops without any connection with hypnosis.

See also

Myths about hypnosis

A person who has a dissociative disorder is, in fact, suffering greatly from his condition. He sees the negative or dismissive attitude of those around him: they look at him strangely, they reject him, no one finds a common language with him, because of him the family can collapse, and so on. At the moment of a dissociative state, a person does not have the opportunity to critically look at himself and his own behavior. That is, in a situation where one of the alternative personalities appears, he is in an inadequate state.

The main theory about the origin of this disease is based on the fact that in childhood such people experienced a traumatic situation, usually bullying or violence.

Dissociation is one of three conditions in which the patient is exempt from criminal responsibility, along with psychosis and mental retardation. There were cases when people in a dissociative state committed murder and rape. In such situations, even taking into account the severity of the crimes, patients are not sent to prison, but are sent to a psychiatric hospital or, in extreme cases, to a special ward of the psychiatric department of the prison.

Causes of dissociative identity disorder

Scientists have not yet found the genetic causes of dissociative personality disorder. The main theory about the origin of this disease is based on the fact that in childhood such people experienced a traumatic situation, usually bullying or violence. However, even this theory does not explain all 100% of cases of dissociative states. There are patients who, without an overt or identified traumatic situation in childhood, suffer from dissociative personality disorder. With regard to the physiological manifestations of this disorder, there is an assumption that in such patients certain areas of the brain stop working and others turn on. However, none of the theories suggesting physiological causes of dissociation currently explains all cases of the disease.

Diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder

Diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder is made through clinical interviews with several specialists. Sometimes the diagnosis requires not one, but several meetings with psychologists and psychiatrists, so that they have the opportunity to identify different aspects of the disorder, look at the patient’s condition from several points of view and assemble a consultation. However, the specialist who identifies this disorder must have a great deal of experience and qualifications, since this disease can often be confused with others. In its manifestations, it can be similar to depression, anxiety or psychosis. It is also common for patients with dissociative identity disorder to be diagnosed with schizophrenia. Dissociation is a rare disorder and not every mental health professional can diagnose this condition.

Medications do not cure dissociative identity disorder, but only relieve some of the symptoms.

See also

Mental norm and pathology

A separate task for a specialist in the process of diagnosing dissociation in a child is to distinguish diseases from the presence of imaginary friends in a child, which very often appear in perfectly healthy children at a certain age. To do this, a specialist must be highly qualified in the field of developmental psychology and clearly be able to recognize a dissociative disorder not only in adults, but also in children.

Treatment of dissociative identity disorder

The main treatment for dissociative personality disorder is hypnosis. Sometimes specialists connect methods of psychoanalysis or cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy to treatment. Also, in some cases, medication is used to relieve symptoms. Drugs are prescribed if the disorder is accompanied by depression, panic attacks, drug or alcohol addiction. Medications do not cure dissociative identity disorder, but only relieve some of the symptoms.