Question 1

Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices)occur in people with dissociative identity disorder (DID)and those with psychotic disorders.How do these hallucinations in DID patients differ from those in patients with psychotic disorders?

Accepted Answer

DID patients often report that the voices they hear are coming from inside their own heads, which is a distinguishing feature from the auditory hallucinations experienced by patients with psychotic disorders, who typically report that the voices come from outside their heads.

Question 2

When is a dissociative trance disorder diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

A dissociative trance disorder is diagnosed only when the trance is undesirable and considered pathological within the context of the individual's culture. This takes into account cultural norms and practices related to trance states.

Question 3

Which of the following statements best describes what is known regarding the accuracy of recovered memories?

Accepted Answer

There is evidence that false memories can be created, particularly through suggestive or leading questioning, and that individuals can develop selective amnesia for early traumatic experiences, particularly in cases of severe abuse or dissociative disorders. It is important to note that while some memories may be genuinely repressed or forgotten, the process of memory retrieval can also be influenced by a variety of factors, including suggestion, imagination, and cultural expectations. Therefore, it is crucial to approach recovered memories with caution and consider alternative explanations for any discrepancies or contradictions in the individual's narrative.

Question 4

What is one factor that helps explain who is likely to develop dissociative identity disorder following childhood trauma?

Accepted Answer

Suggestibility is a factor that may contribute to the development of dissociative identity disorder following childhood trauma. Individuals who are highly suggestible may be more likely to develop dissociative symptoms as a way of coping with the trauma they experienced.

Question 5

When interviewing 129 women with documented histories of childhood sexual abuse,what did Williams (1994)find?

Accepted Answer

Williams (1994) found that 38% of the women did not recall the abuse.

Question 6

Describe the similarities and differences between illness anxiety disorder and somatic symptom disorder.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe the similarities and differences between illness...

Question 7

The diagnostic criteria for dissociative identity disorder include a fragmentation of identity and:

Accepted Answer

The diagnostic criteria for dissociative identity disorder include a fragmentation of identity along with amnesia for important personal information. While a history of trauma, such as sexual abuse, is often present in individuals with this disorder, it is not a necessary criterion for diagnosis. Similarly, while a lack of awareness about the distinct personalities and the existence of three or more alter personalities may be common features of dissociative identity disorder, they are not required for diagnosis.

Question 8

In some ways,for those patients with dissociative identity disorder (DID)and who have suffered horrific childhood abuse,DID can be seen as an adaptive response.Why?

Accepted Answer

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) can be seen as an adaptive response for those patients who have suffered horrific childhood abuse because psychologically, splitting into multiple personalities allows the child to escape an intolerable situation and cope with their trauma. However, it is important to note that while this coping mechanism may have been helpful in the past, it can also result in significant impairment and distress in adulthood.

Question 9

Suriya has dissociative identity disorder and is starting treatment.She asked her psychiatrist what the treatment will involve.What is the psychiatrist likely to say?

Accepted Answer

The treatment for dissociative identity disorder usually involves integrating the personality fragments into a cohesive whole. This can be done through therapy sessions that aim to identify and communicate with each alter and work to establish communication and understanding between them. Hypnotic regression or confrontation of the abuser are not typically recommended as part of the treatment process. Addressing negative thoughts about the abuse may be involved in therapy, but it is not the primary focus.

Question 10

What is one reason that dissociative identity disorder can be misdiagnosed as a psychotic disorder?

Accepted Answer

Auditory hallucinations are a symptom that is common in both dissociative identity disorder and psychotic disorders. This can lead to confusion and misdiagnosis, as mental health professionals may attribute the auditory hallucinations to psychosis rather than DID.

Question 11

In the Williams (1994)study involving 129 women who had documented cases of sexual abuse as children,what percentage of these women reported having no recollection of the abuse incident?

Accepted Answer

38 percent of the women in the Williams (1994) study reported having no recollection of the abuse incident.

Question 12

In many areas of the world,what are dissociative symptoms,such as sudden changes in personality,attributed to?

Accepted Answer

In many cultures, dissociative symptoms such as sudden changes in personality are attributed to possession by a spirit that holds importance in that particular culture. This belief is especially prevalent in traditional and indigenous societies.

Question 13

In a study conducted by Loftus and colleagues (1996),individuals were told about false events that had supposedly occurred when they were children.What did the results of this study reveal?

Accepted Answer

The study revealed that people can become quite convinced they experienced events that never happened. This is known as the phenomenon of false memories, where people can be misled into believing something that did not occur, particularly if the suggestion is repeated and believed to be true. This can occur in both normal and clinical populations.

Question 14

According to the autohypnotic model,who may be able to use dissociation as a defence against extreme trauma?

Accepted Answer

The autohypnotic model suggests that individuals who are highly suggestible may be able to use dissociation as a defence against extreme trauma. Dissociation involves mentally separating oneself from the experience, which can reduce the impact of traumatic events. People who are highly suggestible may be more able to achieve this mental separation through hypnosis or other forms of self-hypnosis. None of the other options are specifically linked to dissociation as a defence mechanism.

Question 15

Greta occasionally has sensations of detachment from her surroundings,as if she were in a dream.This feeling of unreality most often occurs when she is overtired.What diagnosis best fits Greta's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Greta's symptoms are consistent with a dissociative experience, which is characterized by feelings of detachment or disconnection from reality. This is often triggered by stress or fatigue. Conversion hysteria, neurosis, and dysmorphic disorder do not fit the description of Greta's symptoms.

Question 16

What is the fundamental goal of treatment for dissociative identity disorder?

Accepted Answer

The fundamental goal of treatment for dissociative identity disorder is to identify cues or triggers that provoke memories of the trauma or dissociation and to neutralize them. This is because dissociative identity disorder is often caused by extensive and repeated trauma, and learning to manage triggers can make the disorder more manageable. Other goals of treatment may include reducing depression and anxiety, improving coping strategies, and integrating distinct personality states into a cohesive identity, but these are not the fundamental goal of treatment. Therefore, options A, B, and D are incorrect.

Question 17

Discuss the similarities and the differences between somatoform disorders and dissociative disorders,as understood historically and also currently,in terms of psychological features.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Discuss the similarities and the differences between...

Question 18

On the basis of research into and debate about the issue of recovered memories,what official position has the Canadian Psychiatric Association taken?

Accepted Answer

The Canadian Psychiatric Association has taken the position that childhood memories later recovered in adulthood are of questionable reliability and should never be accepted without corroboration. This is in line with the views of many experts in the field who believe that while memories of childhood trauma can sometimes be forgotten and then later remembered, there is a danger of false memories being created through suggestive or coercive techniques. Therefore, any recovered memories should be treated with caution and subject to additional verification.

Question 19

What is the most common type of dissociative disorder in non-Western cultures?

Accepted Answer

Trance and possession is the most commonly reported dissociative experience in non-Western cultures, particularly in cultures that practice shamanism, voodoo, or other forms of spirit possession. Dissociative amnesia, dissociative derealisation disorder, and depersonalization-derealization disorder are more commonly reported in Western cultures.

Question 20

Mark has a seizure disorder and has developed some dissociative symptoms.Gary has dissociative symptoms but no seizure disorder.What likely differs between Mark and Gary?

Accepted Answer

Mark's disorder, involving seizures, is more likely to have a physiological basis, whereas dissociative symptoms without seizures, like Gary's, are often linked to psychological trauma or stress.

Quiz 6: Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders

Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) occur in people with dissociative identity disorder (DID) and those with psychotic disorders.How do these hallucinations in DID patients differ from those in patients with psychotic disorders?