Dissociation and Misdiagnosis in Populations Experiencing Chronic Discrimination and Social Defeat
Monday, April 17, 2023
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM US Eastern Time
Location: Virtual Only
The elevated rate of psychotic symptoms in isolated, inner-city Black populations is well established. This presentation will review the available evidence that this amplification in psychosis-like symptoms is mediated by childhood trauma, disorganized attachment, and social defeat. These three variables combine in early childhood to create a pattern of dissociative coping strategies. Undiagnosed dissociative spectrum illness is mediating the increased rate of psychosis-like symptoms in these disadvantaged, minority communities. Case material will be used to highlight this phenomenon.
Learning Objectives:
At the conclusion of this session participants will be able to:
Summarize the history of racial disparities in the diagnosis of schizophrenia
Define Social Defeat and recognize its etiological role in dissociative disorders
Describe the role of disorganized attachment in childhood adversity and dissociative disorders
Recognize the overlap of symptoms between psychosis and dissociation
Design a treatment plan to work with patients suffering from discrimination and social defeat
