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Understanding Dissociative Disorders
Through Dissociative Signs and Symptoms

Cecilia Pearson

Note: this is only a brief excerpt from the above manuscript to give the reader an overview of dissociative symptoms.

(4) PTSD Symptoms

• Psychological trauma
• Intrusive/imagery/revivification/flashbacks
• Nightmares
• Reactivity to triggers/panic/anxiety
• Hyperarousal/startle response
• Numbing/avoidance/detachment

• Conversion symptoms
• Pseudoseizures
• Somatoform pain symptoms
• Somatization disorder/Briquet's syndrome
• Somatic memory

(6) Affective Symptoms

• Depressed mood
• Mood swings
• Vegetative symptoms
• Suicidal thoughts or attempts/self-mutilation
• Guilt
• Helpless/hopeless" (p. 569)

Loewenstien states that many patients show subtle signs of dissociation as expression of the conflict between expression (of memories and feelings connected to their traumas) and hiding. He also states that child abuse, trauma, and family violence is the single largest preventable cause of mental illnes and that it is in this light that dissociative symptoms should be routinely and persistently looked for and inquired after to insure proper mental health care delivery.

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References

Franklin, J. (1988) Diagnosis of covert and subtle forms of multiple personality disorder. Dissociation Vol. 1,No. 2, pp 27-32.

Kluft, R.P. (1985) Making the diagnosis of multiple personality disorder (MPD). In F.F. Flach (Ed.), Directions in Psychiatry (Vol. 5, Lesson 23). New York: Haterleigh.

Loewenstein, R.J. (1991) An office mental status examination for complex chronic dissociative symptoms and multiple personality disorder. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp 567-604.

Putnam, F.W. (1985) Dissociation as a response to extreme trauma. In R.P. Kluft (Ed.), Childhood antecedents of multiple personality. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.

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