Illnesses and Disabilities - Health Problems & Types of Disabilities

A complex mental process known as disassociation allows children and adults to survive very painful situations, such as rape or incest. The memory of a traumatic experience is blocked from one's ongoing memory, which creates a temporary mental escape from the pain of the trauma. Because this process can produce changes in memory, people who frequently disassociate cannot recall important personal information.

Repeated disassociation can result in separate "beings," or mental states, being created within one person, a condition known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly called multiple personality disorder. These identities, also called "alters" or "personality states," eventually assume their own distinct personal history, self-image, and identity. At least two of these identities take control of the person's behavior at a time.

Women are diagnosed with this disorder far more often than men. Symptoms can include depression, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, sleep disorders, panic attacks, substance abuse, hallucinations, amnesia, trances, and eating disorders. Treatment often consists of individual therapy, medications for specific mood or anxiety symptoms, education about the illness, social skills training, learning better communication and coping skills, and group support. Among severe psychiatric disorders, this disorder may have the best prognosis, if properly diagnosed and treated.

Publications

Borderline Personality Disorder — This publication provides information about the characteristics and treatment of borderline personality disorder.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bpd.cfm
Medications — This booklet is designed to help mental health patients and their families understand how and why medications can be used as part of the treatment of mental health problems.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/medications/complete-publication.shtml...
Mental Health Services Locator — This internet site can help you locate mental health treatment facilities and support services in your state.
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/default.asp
Borderline Personality Disorder (Copyright © AAMFT) — This fact sheet contains information about the symptoms, causes, effects, and treatment of borderline personality disorder. It links to some helpful resources and organizations with more information about this disorder.
http://www.aamft.org/families/Consumer_Updates/Borderline.asp
Dependent Personality Disorder (Copyright © The Cleveland Clinic) — This publication describes dependent personality disorder, a group of conditions marked by feelings of nervousness and fear.
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3700/3794.asp?index=9783
Dissociation and Dissociative Disorders (Copyright © MHA) — This fact sheet contains basic information about dissociative disorders and links to general information about where to get help if you are suffering from a mental disorder.
http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectId=C7DF8D4E-1372-4D20-C86C22067E838DF0
Dissociative disorders (Copyright © MFMER) — This publication from Mayoclinic.com contains information about the different kinds of dissociative disorders, the risk factors, complications, treatment, and more.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dissociative-disorders/DS00574
Dissociative disorders (Copyright © MFMER) — This publication describes the four main types of dissociative disorders: dissociative amnesia, dissociative identity disorder, dissociative fugue, and depersonalization disorder. It also explains risk factors, possible causes, and treatments.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dissociative-disorders/DS00574/DSECTION=symptoms...
Dissociative Disorders (Copyright © NOAH) — This website has links to a thorough definition of dissociative identity disorder (formerly called multiple personality disorder), the symptoms and causes, as well as treatment options.
http://www.noah-health.org/en/mental/disorders/dissociative.html
Factsheet: Personality Disorders (Copyright © MHA) — This fact sheet discusses the types of personality disorders, the causes, and possible treatment methods.
http://mentalhealthamerica.net/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF9722-1372-4D20-C87E8C2FFBC9B85A...
Frequently Asked Questions: Dissociation (Copyright © ISSTD) — This web page contains frequently asked questions about dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder, depersonalization, derealization, dissociative amnesia, and identity confusion and alteration. It also explains the causes of dissociation, treatments, and what to do if a friend or loved one has a dissociative disorder.
http://www.isst-d.org/education/faq-dissociation.htm
Online Screening for Personality Disorders (Copyright © NYU Medical Center) — This is a screening test that is designed to give a preliminary indication of certain personality traits that might be associated with a personality disorder.
http://www.med.nyu.edu/psych/screens/pds.html
Schizoid Personality Disorder (Copyright © The Cleveland Clinic) — This fact sheet provides information about schizoid personality disorder, a type of eccentric personality disorder. It discusses the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and more.
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/3800/3879.asp?index=9744
What Is Borderline Personality Disorder (Copyright © NOAH) — This web site provides links to online publications of other organizations with in depth information about borderline personality disorder.
http://www.noah-health.org/en/mental/disorders/border.html

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of July 2007

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