The scope of dissociative disorders: An international perspective

Abstract

International research has documented the universality of dissociative disorders. Not only are dissociative disorders common in various countries but they are also clinically similar in different cultures. Differences may exist, however, between starting points of interest among dissociation researchers in various countries. Beside dissociative identity disorder, somatoform dissociation has been a major study area in The Netherlands, Turkey, and Germany. Dissociative psychosis was the starting point for dissociation studies in Turkey, whereas depersonalization disorder currently is the most studied dissociative disorder in the United Kingdom. The backlash movement remains limited to North America.