Dissociative Disorder

Dissociation Is an unconscious defense mechanism involving a group of Mental or behavioral processes. As a result of which there is disruption in one or more mental functions such as memory, identity, perception, consciousness or even motor behavior. There is often a history of psychological trauma.
There are different types of Dissociative disorders involving various functions of the psyche.

Dissociative Amnesia: Inability to recall personal information usually related to some significant trauma or stressors which cannot be explained by ordinary forgetfulness. The classical representation is overt dramatic clinical disturbance with history of acute trauma and physical symptoms, altered consciousness, trance state. Many of them sometimes havee a history of prior adult or child abuse.

Localized Amnesia: Inability of recall events of a specific period of time.
Selective Amnesia: Inability to recall some parts but not the whole even of a specific period of time.
Generalize Amnesia: Failure to recall one’s entire life.
Continuous Amnesia: Failure to recall successive event as they occur.
Systemized Amnesia: Failure to remember a certain category of events (e.g. memories related to one person).

Dissociative Fugue: It is a rare psychological condition when a person suddenly and unexpectedly travels away from their home or customary place of daily activities. Along with Amnesia the person is often confused about their own identity or may adapt a new identity. The episode is followed by stress, trauma, trance-like state, confusion or conversion. Recovery is spontaneous and the person has no memory of fugue. It can be managed by therapy to address the underlying cause and by preventing its recurrence.

Dissociative Identity Disorder: The patients usually present with acute amnesia and fugue episodes, but the symptoms are more than just of amnesia. Most of the patients report with complex amnesia, along with blackouts, fungus, unexplained possessions and fluctuations in skills, habits and knowledge.