Dissociative disorder
disorders of mental health in which the normally well-integrated functions of memory, identity, perception, or consciousness are separated (dissociated)
Dissociative disorders (DDs) are a range of mental disorders characterized by significant disruptions or fragmentation "in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation, motor control, and behavior." Dissociative disorders involve involuntary dissociation as an unconscious defense mechanism, wherein the individual with a dissociative disorder experiences separation in these areas as a means to protect against traumatic stress. Some dissociative disorders are caused by major psychological trauma, though the onset of depersonalization-derealization disorder may be preceded by less severe stress, by the influence of psychoactive substances, or occur without any discernible trigger.
Classification
Of frameworks for classification of mental disorders, the two most prominent are the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the International Classification of Diseases; the latest versions of these are the DSM-5-TR and ICD-11, respectively.
The DSM-IV category of dissociative disorder not otherwise specified has been split into two diagnoses: other specified dissociative disorder and unspecified dissociative disorder. These categories are used for forms of pathological dissociation that do not fully meet the criteria of the other specified dissociative disorders; or if the correct category has not been determined; or the disorder is transient. Other specified dissociative disorder (OSDD) has multiple types, which OSDD-1 falling on the spectrum of dissociative identity disorder; it is known as partial DID in the International Classification of Diseases.
The dissociative disorders listed in the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) are as follows:
Dissociative identity disorder
Dissociative amnesia
Depersonalization-derealization disorder
Others
Dissociative fugue was previously a separate category but is now treated as a specifier for dissociative amnesia, though many patients with dissociative fugue are ultimately diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder.
The ICD-11 lists dissociative disorders as:
Dissociative neurological symptom disorder
Dissociative amnesia
Dissociative amnesia with dissociative fugue
Trance disorder
Possession trance disorder
Dissociative identity disorder [complete]
Partial dissociative identity disorder
Depersonalization-derealization disorder
Causes
Dissociative disorders most often develop as a way to cope with psychological trauma. People with dissociative disorders were commonly subjected to chronic physical, sexual, or emotional abuse as children (or, less frequently, an otherwise frightening or highly unpredictable home environment). Some categories of DD, however, can form due to trauma that occurs later in life and is unrelated to abuse, such as war or the death of a loved one.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Dissociative disorder” as disorders of mental health in which the normally well-integrated functions of memory, identity, perception, or consciousness are separated (dissociated). Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
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The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 11, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2627467. The Library of Congress control number is sh92004916. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
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This entry incorporates text from “Dissociative disorder” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.