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Dissociative Disorders
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The Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Program staff has extensive clinical, teaching and research experience with patients with abuse histories. The staff of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, rehabilitation specialists and counselors working in the program has developed a special sensitivity to the needs of abuse and trauma survivors. In particular, the program's nursing staff has developed special expertise in helping patients manage dissociative symptoms and flashbacks. In addition, many professional staff members are nationally and regionally recognized for their teaching and research concerning post-traumatic stress.
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Dissociative Disorders survivors often spend years living with misdiagnoses, consequently floundering within the mental health system. They change from therapist to therapist and from medication to medication, getting treatment for symptoms but making little or no actual progress. Research has documented that on average, people with Dissociative Disorders have spent seven years in the mental health system prior to accurate diagnosis. This is common, because the list of symptoms that cause a person with a Dissociative Disorder to seek treatment is very similar to those of many other psychiatric diagnoses. In fact, many people who are diagnosed with Dissociative Disorders ... have secondary diagnoses of depression, anxiety, or panic disorders.
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Structured diagnostic interviews such as the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) (Putnam, 1989), the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) (Ross, 1989), and the Structured Clinical Interview for Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D) (Steinberg, 1990) are now available for the assessment of dissociative disorders. This can result in more rapid and appropriate help for survivors. Dissociative disorders can ... be diagnosed by the Diagnostic Drawing Series (DDS) (Mills & Cohen, 1993).
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Dissociative Disorders are often referred to as a highly creative survival technique because they allow individuals enduring "hopeless" circumstances to preserve some areas of healthy functioning. Over time... for a child who has been repeatedly physically and sexually assaulted, defensive dissociation becomes reinforced and conditioned. Because the dissociative escape is so effective, children who are very practiced at it may automatically use it whenever they feel threatened or anxious -- even if the anxiety-producing situation is not extreme or abusive.
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More detailed information on the various dissociative disorders is available through the documents and links attached to this and child topic centers. Please browse these resources to gain in understanding of these disorders.
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Dissociative Disorders