Dissociative Disorders are characterized by which of the following?

Dissociative Disorders are characterized by which of the following?

• A. Disturbance in the normally integrative functions of identity, memory, consciousness, or perception
• B. Persistent mood disturbance with periods of mania
• C. Chronic functioning impairment due to biological brain disease
• D. Preoccupation with fears of illness.

Answer: (A)

Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in the normally integrated functions of identity, memory, consciousness, or perception. This means a person may have gaps in memory for personal information or events, experience two or more distinct identities taking control, or feel detached from themselves or their surroundings. These disruptions reflect a breakdown in the unity of self and experience, rather than mood changes, brain disease, or worries about illness. The other patterns describe different conditions—mood episodes with mania point to a mood disorder, ongoing brain-based impairment suggests a neurocognitive or neurological issue, and excessive illness worry aligns with health anxiety or related disorders—so they don’t capture the hallmark integration failure seen in dissociative disorders.

Dissociative disorders involve disruptions in the normally integrated functions of identity, memory, consciousness, or perception. This means a person may have gaps in memory for personal information or events, experience two or more distinct identities taking control, or feel detached from themselves or their surroundings. These disruptions reflect a breakdown in the unity of self and experience, rather than mood changes, brain disease, or worries about illness. The other patterns describe different conditions—mood episodes with mania point to a mood disorder, ongoing brain-based impairment suggests a neurocognitive or neurological issue, and excessive illness worry aligns with health anxiety or related disorders—so they don’t capture the hallmark integration failure seen in dissociative disorders.