Beliefs About Dissociative Disorders
Explain your professional beliefs about dissociative disorders, supporting your rationale with at least three scholarly references from the literature.
Professional Beliefs About Dissociative Disorders
As a professional perspective, dissociative disorders (DDs) are legitimate and complex psychiatric conditions that require nuanced understanding, careful diagnosis, and individualized treatment. These beliefs are grounded in a growing body of evidence supporting the trauma-related etiology of dissociative disorders and the importance of addressing them within clinical practice.
1. Dissociative Disorders as Trauma-Related Conditions
I align with the trauma model, which posits that dissociative disorders, particularly Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), often emerge as adaptive responses to severe trauma, especially during early childhood. Dissociation allows individuals to compartmentalize overwhelming experiences, helping them survive abusive or threatening environments. Research supports this view:
- Van der Hart et al. (2006) describe dissociation as a defense mechanism against trauma, often associated with chronic childhood abuse. The evidence links adverse childhood experiences to increased dissociative symptoms in adulthood.
- Sar et al. (2017) highlight the significant overlap between dissociative disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emphasizing that trauma-related dissociation is both a psychological and neurobiological response to stress…
Professional Beliefs About Dissociative Disorders
As a professional perspective, dissociative disorders (DDs) are legitimate and complex psychiatric conditions that require nuanced understanding, careful diagnosis, and individualized treatment. These beliefs are grounded in a growing body of evidence supporting the trauma-related etiology of dissociative disorders and the importance of addressing them within clinical practice.
1. Dissociative Disorders as Trauma-Related Conditions
I align with the trauma model, which posits that dissociative disorders, particularly Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), often emerge as adaptive responses to severe trauma, especially during early childhood. Dissociation allows individuals to compartmentalize overwhelming experiences, helping them survive abusive or threatening environments. Research supports this view:
- Van der Hart et al. (2006) describe dissociation as a defense mechanism against trauma, often associated with chronic childhood abuse. The evidence links adverse childhood experiences to increased dissociative symptoms in adulthood.
- Sar et al. (2017) highlight the significant overlap between dissociative disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emphasizing that trauma-related dissociation is both a psychological and neurobiological response to stress…
