Question

Twin sisters Molly and Holly both have peculiar psychological conditions. Once, Molly woke up on her kitchen floor, not knowing her name or how she came to be in her house. Holly disappeared and turned up a month later in a different state, living as "Nicole" and with no memory of her former life. Molly most likely has dissociative ________ whereas Holly most likely has dissociative ______. a. fugue; amnesia b. identity disorder; amnesia c. amnesia; fugue d. identity disorder; fugue

Short answer

c. amnesia; fugue

Step-by-step solution

Understand the symptoms of both sisters

First, we should understand what happened to Molly and Holly. Molly lost her memory, not knowing her name or her surroundings. Holly disappeared, later found living as "Nicole" in a different state with no memory of her former life.

Know the dissociative disorders

We need to know the different types of dissociative disorders to find the correct answer. Here are the ones presented in the options: 1. Dissociative Amnesia: A person cannot remember important personal information or experiences, usually triggered by a traumatic event. 2. Dissociative Fugue: A person suddenly and unexpectedly travels away from their home or workplace, assumes a new identity, and has no memory of their previous life. 3. Dissociative Identity Disorder: A person has two or more distinct personality states or identities, each having their own pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self.

Match the Symptoms to the disorders

Now, let's match the symptoms of Molly and Holly with the correct dissociative disorders: Molly: Lost her memory, not knowing her name or her surroundings. This matches the characteristics of Dissociative Amnesia. Holly: Disappeared and was later found living as "Nicole" in a different state with no memory of her previous life. This matches the characteristics of Dissociative Fugue.

Choose the right answer

Based on our analysis, Molly most likely has dissociative amnesia, and Holly most likely has dissociative fugue. Therefore, the correct answer is: c. amnesia; fugue

Key concepts

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesia is a psychological condition where individuals experience a loss of memory about personal information or significant life events. This is not the type of forgetting where you misplace your keys or forget a meeting. It's a more profound break from memory. The memory loss often relates to stressful or traumatic experiences.

When someone like Molly wakes up not knowing her name or whereabouts, it signals dissociative amnesia. They might forget specific events, people, or periods of time. Even though the memories are usually episodic and extend over periods ranging from minutes to days, in some cases, they can stretch over longer time frames.

Different forms of dissociative amnesia include:

• Localized amnesia: Forgetting all events during a specific period.
• Selective amnesia: Forgetting some, but not all, events during a period.
• Generalized amnesia: Complete loss of identity and life history, which is rare.

This condition can occur at any age, though it typically appears in young adults. Treatment usually involves therapy and counseling focused on addressing the underlying trauma and helping the person recall and process their memories.

Dissociative Fugue

Dissociative fugue is a rare and severe form of dissociative disorder. It involves not only a loss of identity but also unexpected travel from home or work. Imagine waking up in a different state, adopting a new identity, with no recollection of your past—that's how Holly's situation can be described.

People experiencing a fugue might take up new jobs, establish new social connections, or even form a new life under a new identity. The fugue state may last hours, days, or even longer. When they come out of the fugue, their memory of the new life can be either completely obscured or only vaguely remembered.

Some characteristics of dissociative fugue include:

• Sudden and unexpected travel away from home.
• Inability to recall past events or personal information.
• Confusion about identity or assumption of a new identity.
• Severe stress or trauma often precedes the fugue.

The triggering of a fugue state is often linked to intense stress, trauma, or internal conflicts. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, and the prognosis varies depending on the individual circumstances and the duration of the fugue.

Psychological Conditions

Psychological conditions refer to a wide range of mental health disorders that affect mood, thinking, and behavior. These conditions can significantly impact daily life and relationships.

Dissociative disorders fall under this category and are primarily characterized by disruptions or breakdowns in memory, consciousness, identity, or perception. They include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, and dissociative identity disorder, each manifesting in distinct ways.

Understanding psychological conditions involves recognizing the signs and symptoms, which can vary widely from person to person. Some factors that contribute to these disorders include:

• Genetics: Family history of mental health issues may increase risk.
• Environmental stress: Experiences like trauma, abuse, or a highly stressful life event.
• Brain chemistry: Imbalances in neurotransmitters may play a role.

Awareness and education about these conditions lead to better recognition and management. Effective treatment plans might include therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, and supportive resources that cater to the specific needs of the individual.