(1993). Journal of American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 21:581-603 Dissociation, Development, and the Psychobiology of Trauma Dissociation and dissociative disorders represent one of the most important areas in the study of human mental life. These phenomena are vitally important for psychiatry, psychology, and psychoanalysis to understand and assimilate. There are many reasons for this. Dissociative disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders in North America and probably throughout the world (Mulhern, 1991; Ross, 1991). The development of a dissociative disorder is primarily linked to the experience of overwhelming psychological trauma. Thus, the systematic societal attempt to decrease the prevalence of avoidable traumatic experiences such as child abuse, rape, and other forms of intrafamilial violence represents the single most important area for preventive mental health in our society. The study of the dissociative disorders is vitally important for psychoanalysis. Recent systematic studies suggest that as many as 10% of the general population suffer from a dissociative disord [This is a summary or excerpt from the full text of the book or article. The full text of the document is available to subscribers.] |
