Dissociative disorders

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

People with a dissociative disorder are at increased risk of complications that include:

  • Self-mutilation
  • Suicide attempts
  • Sexual dysfunction, including sexual addiction or avoidance
  • Alcoholism and substance abuse
  • Depression
  • Sleep disorders, including nightmares, insomnia and sleepwalking
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Eating disorders
  • Severe headaches

Dissociative disorders are also associated with significant difficulties in relationships and at work. People with these conditions often aren't able to cope well with emotional or professional stress, and their dissociative reactions — from tuning out to disappearing — may worry loved ones and cause colleagues to view them as unreliable.

References
  1. Dissociative disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
  2. Maldonado JR, et al. Dissociative disorders. In: Hales RE, et al., eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2008:665.
  3. Dissociation and dissociative disorders. National Mental Health Association. http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectId=C7DF8D4E-1372-4D20-C86C22067E838DF0&CFID=306278&CFTOKEN=696f1d08c4d6ecd2-823F75DC-1372-4D20-C8B94665B1F8DBE7. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
  4. Frequently asked questions: Dissociation and dissociative disorders. International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation. http://www.isst-d.org/education/faq-dissociation.htm. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
  5. Turkus JA, et al. Therapeutic interventions in the treatment of dissociative disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2006;29:245.
  6. Chu JA, et al. Guidelines for treating dissociative identity disorder in adults. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. 2005;6:69.
  7. Silberg J, et al. Guidelines for treating dissociative identity disorder in children and adolescents. Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. 2004;5:119.
  8. Berkowitz CD. Child maltreatment. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Marx: Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006:968.
  9. Sar V, et al. Dissociative disorders in the psychiatric emergency ward. General Hospital Psychiatry. 2007;29:45.

DS00574

March 3, 2009

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