Module 50 - Dissociative, Personality and Somatoform Disorders

Question 1

Dissociative Disorders

Answer 1

Disorders of consciousness in which conscious awareness becomes separated (dissociated) from previous memories, thoughts and feelings.

Question 2

Dissociation Experiences

Answer 2

1. Having a sense of being “unreal” (surreal)
2. Being separated from the body
3. Watching yourself as if in a movie

Question 3

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Answer 3

Previously called “Multiple Personality Disorder”
A massive dissociation of self from ordinary consciousness in which two or more distinct identities are said to control the person at different times.

Question 4

Criticisms

Answer 4

Skeptics question whether it is a real disorder or an extension of our capacity for personality shifts (we often take on a different persona around different people)

Question 5

Personality Disorders

Answer 5

Disruptive, inflexible, and enduring behavior patterns that impairs social function (make persons socially undesirable)
Do not involve depression or delusions

Question 6

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 6

A disturbing disorder in which the person (usually a man) exhibits a lack of conscience for wrongdoing, even toward friends and family.

Question 7

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 7

Impulsive, uninhibited, unconcerned for social reward. Uncooperative, defiant, and hostile toward authority figures (ODD).
Likely history of lying, cheating, stealing, fighting, unrestrained sexual behaviour

Question 8

Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 8

Fearless Approach to life: display low levels of ANS arousal to impending aversive events (electric shock, loud noise)

Question 9

Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 9

PET scans of 41 murderers revealed reduced activity in the frontal lobes. In other study, repeat offenders had 11% less frontal lobe tissue

Question 10

Somatoform Disorders

Answer 10

Disorders in which somatic (bodily) symptoms occur without an explicable physical cause.

Question 11

Conversion Disorder

Answer 11

Rare somatoform disorder in which a person experiences very specific genuine physical symptoms for which there is no identifiable physiological basis

Question 12

Hypochondriasis

Answer 12

Person interprets normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease.