dissosiative

Dissociation is a mental process that involves a separation of thoughts, memories, or perceptions from conscious awareness. The term is commonly used in both everyday language and clinical contexts; the spelling “dissosiative” may appear in informal writing, but the standard terms are “dissociation” and “dissociative disorders.” Dissociation exists on a spectrum from ordinary experiences, such as daydreaming or brief depersonalization during stress, to more persistent and disruptive conditions that impair functioning.

Dissociative disorders are recognized in major diagnostic manuals and include several subtypes: dissociative amnesia (gaps in memory for personal information or past events without an organic cause); depersonalization/derealization disorder (persistent or recurrent feelings of detachment from self or surroundings); dissociative identity disorder (the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states); and other specified or unspecified dissociative disorders (for presentations that do not fit the other categories). Symptoms typically involve disruptions in memory, identity, consciousness, and perception, and are often linked to trauma or high-stress circumstances.

Causes and risk factors include a history of significant trauma or chronic abuse, especially in childhood, as well as genetic, neurobiological, and developmental factors. Dissociation is viewed as a coping mechanism that can help individuals survive overwhelming experiences, but when extreme or persistent, it may contribute to ongoing impairment.

Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment, careful history-taking, and exclusion of medical conditions or substance effects. Structured interviews and validated criteria support differentiation among subtypes.

Treatment primarily involves psychotherapy, with trauma-focused approaches such as EMDR, specialized psychodynamic work, and cognitive-behavioral strategies. Grounding techniques and skills training assist emotion regulation. Medications may address co-occurring symptoms like depression or anxiety but do not directly treat dissociation. Prognosis varies and depends on trauma history, early intervention, and access to sustained treatment.