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• What are dissociative disorders?


  Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions involving a loss of connection between thoughts, memories, feelings, surroundings, behavior, and identity.
• How do dissociative disorders affect daily life?


  They cause problems in managing everyday life due to unwanted and unhealthy escape from reality.
• What typically triggers dissociative disorders?


  They usually arise as a reaction to shocking, distressing, or painful events.
• What are some symptoms of dissociative disorders?

  Symptoms can include memory loss, detachment from self, distorted perception of surroundings, blurred identity, and significant stress in relationships.
• What are the types of dissociative symptoms experienced?

  • Memory loss (amnesia)
  • Detachment from self and emotions
  • Distorted perception of surroundings
  • Blurred sense of identity
  • Significant stress in relationships and work
  • Inability to cope with stress
  • Mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety)
• What is dissociative amnesia?


  Dissociative amnesia is characterized by severe memory loss that cannot be explained by a medical condition.
• What can trigger dissociative amnesia?

  It is often related to traumatic or stressful events.
• What is selective amnesia?


  Selective amnesia involves losing only some memories from a certain period. forgetting some parts of traumatic event
• What is continuous amnesia?


  Continuous amnesia is when a person forgets each new event as it occurs, often triggered by a traumatic event.
• What is systematized amnesia?


  Systematized amnesia is the loss of memories related to a specific category or individual.
• What is generalized amnesia?


  Generalized amnesia is a rare form where an individual completely forgets their own identity and life experiences.
• What is localized amnesia?


  Localized amnesia is the inability to remember an event or period of time and is the most common type.
• What is dissociative identity disorder?


  Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by "switching" to alternate identities.
• What are the characteristics of identities in dissociative identity disorder?

  Each identity may have a unique name, personal history, voice, gender, and characteristics.
• What is depersonalization-derealization disorder?


  This disorder involves a sense of detachment from oneself and a perception of the world as distorted or unreal.
• What is the duration of symptoms in depersonalization-derealization disorder?

  Symptoms may last only a few moments or come and go over many years.
• What is depressive disorder?

  Depressive disorder involves a depressed mood or loss of pleasure in activities for long periods.
• How long must depressive symptoms persist to be classified as major depressive disorder?

  Symptoms must persist for at least two weeks.
• What are some physical signs of major depressive disorder?


  Signs include tearful eyes, down-turned mouth, slumped posture, and lack of facial expression.
• What is persistent depressive disorder?


  Persistent depressive disorder is characterized by depressive symptoms that last for two years or more without remission.
• What is prolonged grief disorder?


  Prolonged grief disorder is persistent sadness following the loss of a loved one.
• How long must grief last to be considered prolonged grief disorder?

  Grief must last a year or longer to be considered prolonged grief disorder.
• What are some symptoms of prolonged grief disorder?

  Symptoms include disbelief, feelings of identity confusion, emotional pain, and avoidance of reminders of the loss.
• What is bipolar disorder?

  Bipolar disorder causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration.
• What are the two phases of bipolar disorder?

  The two phases are the manic phase and the depressive episode.
• What characterizes the manic phase of bipolar disorder?

  It is characterized by excessive excitement, poor judgment, and rapid speech.
• What characterizes the depressive episode in bipolar disorder?


  During this episode, patients may sleep more than usual and show irritability and withdrawal.
• What are the types of depressive disorders?

  • Major Depressive Disorder
  • Persistent Depressive Disorder
  • Prolonged Grief Disorder
• What are the symptoms of major depressive disorder?

  • Depressed mood for most of the day
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
  • Tearful eyes and down-turned mouth
  • Slumped posture and poor eye contact
  • Lack of facial expression and little body movement
• What are the symptoms of persistent depressive disorder?


  • Depressive symptoms lasting ≥ 2 years
  • Habitually gloomy and pessimistic
  • Passive and lethargic
  • Hypercritical of self and others
  • Often co-occurs with anxiety or substance use disorders
• What are the symptoms of prolonged grief disorder?

  • Persistent longing or yearning for the deceased
  • Preoccupation with the deceased
  • Accompanied by ≥ 3 of the following:
  • Disbelief
  • Identity confusion
  • Feelings of numbness
  • Feelings of meaninglessness
  • Intense emotional pain
  • Avoidance of reminders of the loss
  • Intense loneliness
  • Difficulty engaging in ongoing life
• depersonalization


  an ongoing or episodic sense of detachment or being outside yourself. observing your actions, feelings, thoughts and self from a distance as though watching a movie
• derealization


  other people and things around you may feel detached and foggy or dreamlike, time may be slowed down or sped up, and the world may seem unreal
• dissociative identity disorder

  formerly known as MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER
• bipolar disorder


  formerly called manic depressive illness or manic depression