6.2: Dissociative Disorders - Epidemiology

Learning Objectives

• Describe the epidemiology of dissociative disorders.

Dissociative disorders were once believed to be extremely rare; however, more recent research suggests that they may be more present in the general population than once thought. Estimates for the prevalence of dissociative identity disorder in U.S. adults is 1.5%, with women predominating in adult clinical settings. Symptom profiles, clinical history, and childhood trauma history show few gender differences though women have higher rates of somatization. Research shows that dissociative amnesia occurs in approximately 1.8% of the U.S. population. It is estimated that about one-half of all adults have experienced at least one episode of depersonalization/derealization during their life, however, symptomatology that meets full criteria for the disorder is markedly less common than these transient symptoms. A one-month prevalence of about 1-2% was reported in the United Kingodm (APA, 2022).

The onset of dissociative disorders is generally late adolescence to early adulthood, with the exception of dissociative identity disorder. Due to the high comorbidity between childhood abuse and dissociative identity disorder, it is believed that symptoms begin in early childhood following the repeated exposure to abuse; however, the full onset of the disorder is not observed (or noticed by others) until adolescence (Sar et al., 2014).

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