Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

somatoform disorders
Psychological 
diffi culties that take on a physical 
(somatic) form, but for which there is 
no medical cause.
conversion disorder
A major somato-
form disorder that involves an actual 
physical disturbance, such as the 
inability to use a sensory organ or the 
complete or partial inability to move 
an arm or leg.
hypochondriasis
A disorder in which 
people have a constant fear of illness 
and a preoccupation with their health.
feL82795_ch15_500-541.indd Page 518 8/5/10 3:15 PM user-f465
feL82795_ch15_500-541.indd Page 518 8/5/10 3:15 PM user-f465
/Users/user-f465/Desktop
/Users/user-f465/Desktop

---

 
Module 47 
The Major Psychological Disorders 
519
dissociative disorders
Psychological 
dysfunctions characterized by the 
separation of different facets of a 
person’s personality that are normally 
integrated.
dissociative identity disorder (DID)
A disorder in which a person displays 
characteristics of two or more distinct 
personalities.
dissociative disorders.  Dissociative disorders  are characterized by the separation 
(or dissociation) of different facets of a person’s personality that are normally 
integrated and work together. By dissociating key parts of who they are, people 
are able to keep disturbing memories or perceptions from reaching conscious 
awareness and thereby reduce their anxiety (Maldonado & Spiegel, 2003; 
Houghtalen & Talbot, 2007). 
Several dissociative disorders exist, although all of them are rare. A person with 
a  dissociative identity disorder (DID)  (once called multiple personality disorder ) dis-
plays characteristics of two or more distinct personalities, identities, or personality 
fragments. Individual personalities often have a unique set of likes and dislikes and 
their own reactions to situations. Some people with multiple personalities even carry 
several pairs of glasses because their vision changes with each personality. Moreover, 
each individual personality can be well adjusted when considered on its own (Ella-
son & Ross, 2004; Stickley & Nickeas, 2006). 
The diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder is controversial. It was rarely 
diagnosed before 1980, when it was added as a category in the third edition of 
DSM for the fi rst time. At that point, the number of cases increased signifi cantly. 
Some clinicians suggest the increase was due to more precise identifi cation of the 
disorder, while others suggest the increase was due to an overreadiness to use the 
classifi cation. In addition, widespread publicity about cases of DID may have infl u-
enced patients to report symptoms of more common personality disorders in ways 
that made it more likely they would receive a diagnosis of DID. There are also