https://nobaproject.com/modules/dissociative-disorders Influence of Sleep Abnormalities on Dissociative Symptoms The reading above discussed the link between sleep problems and dissociation. Summarize (in your own words) the data presented on this topic.

Influence of Sleep Abnormalities on Dissociative Symptoms

The disconnection between an individual’s thoughts, feelings, memories, perceptions, and experiences of their consciousness or surroundings leads to dissociation (Kloet, 2021). Accordingly, dissociation occurs as a state of mind that lasts for a short time and as a trait when it is part of an individual’s character and attributed to a disorder. Examples of dissociation include multiple personality disorder, which was first diagnosed in the 1980s, dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, and depersonalization. Furthermore, various factors contribute to the development of dissociation, such as sleep and trauma. Therefore, a connection has been established between sleep and dissociation since sleep abnormalities contribute to dissociation symptoms.

According to Kloet 2021, dissociation symptoms include depersonalization, derealization, dissociative amnesia, identity confusion, and identity alteration. Most of these symptoms are attributed to sleep irregularities. In the past, multiple disorder was referred to as somnambulism, a state of sleepwalking. Also, sleep paralysis contributes to dissociative disorder symptoms in patients with childhood trauma. Accordingly, these facts are supported by sleep complaints that individuals present.

Sleep complaints include sleeplessness, nightmares, and lucid and recurring dreams, and 29% of adults in America make these complaints. Consequently, this data allows for the linking of sleep and dissociation symptoms, and these results on the link have been discovered in research conducted over various years. Moreover, specific sleep abnormalities and irregularities contribute to the development of dissociation symptoms. For example, intense dreams, such as constant nightmares that occur at least three times in three weeks, worsen dissociative states and traits.  Additionally, the link between sleep and dissociation was found in both individuals with dissociative states and traits. For instance, among patients with dissociative identity disorder, seventeen patients in a group of thirty reported nightmares; also, nightmares were found prevalent in 49% of borderline personality disorder patients.

Additionally, an analysis of dissociative disorder patients discovered a 27.5% prevalence of nocturnal dissociative episodes. Also, sleepwalking was found to be prevalent in dissociative identity disorder patients. In conclusion, sleep irregularities and abnormalities have been found to influence dissociative symptoms.

References

Kloet, D. (2021). Dissociative Disorders. Noba. Retrieved 7 July 2021, from https://nobaproject.com/modules/dissociative-disorders.