Question 1

what causes depersonalization/dissociative disorders?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative DO: This is controversial. Some believe it is due to childhood  traumas & disorganized attachments. A recent review article by dr. Stern in the psychoanalytic quarterly journal jan. 2012 , supports the hypothesis that current or recent trauma may affect one's assessment of the more distant past, changing the experience of the past & resulting in dissociative states.

Question 2

what are dissociative disorders?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative D/O: "dissociative disorders" means a group of 4 disorders having in common: memory loss for certain periods of time, events, & people; sense of being detached from self (depersonalization); perception that things around you are distorted & unreal (derealization); blurry sense of identity; disturbed functioning in life, work, etc.  Reality testing is intact, unlike psychotic illnesses.

Question 3

can dissociative disorders be cured?

Accepted Answer

With dissociation,: I think healing is a more accurate term.  Mental processes are like a dance, and we're always balancing something.  With treatment of dissociative disorders, one may become more resilient to the things which previously triggered dissociation, so that this is no longer the automatic coping response.  One has more gears, in a way.  Dissociation leaves you without choice -- treatment provides these.

Question 4

dissociative disorders--how weird can they be?

Accepted Answer

Disconcerting: Dissociative disorders can impair one's normal state of awareness and limits, or alter one's state of identity, memory, or consciousness.  One can "lose" large portions of time, or find one's self in a place without recalling going there.   Such experiences can feel very "weird" and confusing to the person.  Also, they may show up as physical symptoms -- further confusing diagnosis and treatment.

Question 5

what is the definition or description of: dissociative disorders?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative: Dissociation is a defensive operation that the human mind engages in unconsciously in order to avoid painful stimuli or memories.

Question 6

are people with dissociative disorders psychopathic?

Accepted Answer

Not really: The conflicts between alters are more internal than external.

Question 7

is the suicide rate high when in dissociative disorders?

Accepted Answer

No clear data: Suicide rate in the general population is about 11.3 per 100, 000.
Suicide attempts, non suicidal self harm, self mutilation occur frequently in this population but I am not aware of the rates of suicide.

Question 8

do neurologists treat dissociative disorders?

Accepted Answer

Not alone: Neurologists may treat some people who also have dissociative disorders, but would not be doing this by themselves unless they also have full training in psychiatry.  A typical scenario might be a patient who has both a seizure disorder and dissociative disorder -- needs care from both psychiatry and neurology working together. Such a person will also need psychotherapy.

Question 9

what could be a physiological explanation to dissociative disorders? what are the part of the brain that are involved?

Accepted Answer

Multiple areas: Correlations have been demonstrated between the symptoms of dissociation and the right temporo parietal junction, an area involved in perspective taking, sense of self and integration of information between self and environment. There are several aspects of mental dissociation, and brain areas involved in those domains, e.g., visual/auditory/tactile processing, attention, are associated with each.

Question 10

how dosalmonellaspecies cause disease(s)?

Accepted Answer

Intestine: The salmonella bacteria enter the body through the GI tract and then gain access to the bloodstream by going through the lymphatic channels on the intestinal tract.  The bacteria then travel around the circulation and infect various organs causing disease.

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Cause of dissociative disorders

A member asked:

What causes depersonalization/dissociative disorders?

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What are dissociative disorders?

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Can dissociative disorders be cured?

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Dissociative disorders--how weird can they be?

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What is the definition or description of: dissociative disorders?

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Are people with dissociative disorders psychopathic?

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Is the suicide rate high when in dissociative disorders?

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Do neurologists treat dissociative disorders?

A member asked:

What could be a physiological explanation to dissociative disorders? what are the part of the brain that are involved?

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How dosalmonellaspecies cause disease(s)?

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