Definition
Stigma and dissociation intersect through popular media distortion of DID, clinical skepticism about dissociative disorders, and stereotypes that harm patients seeking care.
Why it matters
Naming stigma is part of respectful care. It also protects clinicians from unwittingly reproducing it.
The Science
Dissociative disorders remain among the most under-diagnosed and mis-diagnosed conditions in psychiatry. Sensational media representations of DID rarely match clinical reality.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats dissociation with the same clinical seriousness as any other legitimate condition.
Clinical Implications
Educating referrers, colleagues, and patients about accurate dissociation science is part of the work.
Practical Application
What you know about dissociation from television is unlikely to match what dissociation actually is. Ask a specialist.
References
- 1.Brand BL, Sar V, Stavropoulos P, et al. Separating fact from fiction: an empirical examination of six myths about dissociative identity disorder. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016;24(4):257–270.