Dissociative disorders in the psychiatric emergency ward

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Emergency Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Dissociative disorders are often underdiagnosed.
• Emergency psychiatric services encounter diverse patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of dissociative disorders in psychiatric emergency admissions.
• To highlight the significance of these disorders in acute care settings.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 97 consecutive outpatients using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES).
• Diagnostic interviews (Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule, Structured Clinical Interview for Dissociative Disorders) for patients with DES scores > 25.0.

Main Results:

• 15 out of 43 evaluated patients (34.9%) were diagnosed with a dissociative disorder.
• Common diagnoses included dissociative identity disorder, dissociative disorder not otherwise specified, and dissociative amnesia.
• Comorbidities included major depression, somatization disorder, and borderline personality disorder; common symptoms were auditory hallucinations, amnesia, flashbacks, and history of abuse.

Conclusions:

• Dissociative disorders represent a significant diagnostic group within emergency psychiatry.
• These findings underscore the need for routine screening and diagnosis in emergency psychiatric settings.