What historical elements may be common in dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia, and depersonalization/derealization disorder?
A history of severe childhood physical and emotional abuse, or a history of traumatic wartime or natural disaster experiences is common in these disorders.
Dissociation or depersonalization can be part of the normal experience during extreme situations, but for people with dissociative disorders the symptoms are severe, persistent, and disabling.
