Dissociative Disorder

Dissociative disorder is identified as a 'partial or complete loss of the normal integration between memories of the past, awareness of identity and immediate sensations, and control of bodily movements'(ICD-10). The dissociative disorders in ICD-10 include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative stupor, trance and possession disorders, and multiple personality disorder. We report on three patients who met ICD-10 criteria for dissociative disorders: dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, and multiple personality disorder. Two patients were women and sexual conflict was the initial trigger; case 1 hesitated to break with her married boyfriend and case 3 denied she would divorce her husband. Case 2 was a man who faced a crisis that he might loose his credit. Dissociation arose as a mechanism for all three patients against their conflictual state. Finally all three patients could solve their conflicts without using dissociative defense. Case 1 separated from her boyfriend and case 3 decided to divorce her husband, case 2 recognized his trouble was not so severe.