UNRAVELLING THE ENIGMATIC MINDSCAPE: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY ON INTRICATE PATTERNS OF DISSOCIATIVE DISORDERS
Abstract
Background- Dissociative disorders, presumed to have psychogenic origin, often emerge as a response to traumatic
events, insurmountable challenges, or strained relationships. They serve as a coping mechanism for individuals facing
overwhelming stress. These exhibit variations in prevalence and manifestation across diverse cultures and geographical regions worldwide.
Aim- To assess the prevalence and patterns of dissociative disorders among psychiatric inpatients over a comprehensive six-months period.
Materials and Methods- This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at S.P. Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan from January 2023
to June 2023. The sample constituted Psychiatric inpatients who fullled the ICD-10 criteria for diagnosing dissociative disorders. After
obtaining informed consent, a semi-structured proforma was used to gather sociodemographic information, document presenting signs and
symptoms and establish a nal diagnosis. Results- During the span of six months, a total of 867 patients were evaluated. Out of these, 250
patients were diagnosed with Dissociative disorder based on ICD-10 criteria. Majority of patients fell within the age group of 21-30 years
(36.4%), were females (94.4%), married (52.8%), lived in rural areas (72.4%), belonged to joint families (65.6%), had positive family history of
dissociative disorder (20.8%) and experienced psychosocial stressors. Dissociative convulsions (60.4%) were the most common presentation
followed by Dissociative motor disorders (18.4%) and mixed dissociative disorder (16.8%). Conclusions- These ndings led us to conclude that
dissociation serves as a signicant nonverbal communication process of the subconscious mind, asserting its importance in understanding and
addressing these disorders.
