302 Dissociative Disorders
Normal and age-related changes in memory. Memory decrements in major and mild
neurocognitive disorders differ from those of  dissociative amnesia, which are usually as-
sociated with stressful events and are more specific, extensive, and/or complex.
Comorbidity
As dissociative amnesia begins  to remit, a wide variety of  affective phenomena may sur-
face: dysphoria, grief, rage, shame, guilt, psychological conf lict and turmoil, and suicidal
and homicidal ideation, impulses, and acts. These individuals may have symptoms that
then meet diagnostic criteria  for persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia); major de-
pressive disorder; other specified or unspec ified depressive disord er; adjustment disor-
der, with depressed mood; or adjustment disorder, with mixed disturbance of emotions
and conduct. Many individuals with dissociative amnesia develop PTSD at some point
during their life, especially when the traumatic antecedent s of their amnesia are brought
into conscious awareness. 
Many individuals with dissociative amnesia have symptoms that meet diagnostic cri-
teria for a comorbid somatic symptom or related disorder (and vice versa), including so-
matic symptom disorder and conversion di sorder (functional neurological symptom
disorder). Many individuals with dissociative  amnesia have symptoms  that meet diagnos-
tic criteria for a personality disorder, especially dependent, avoidant, and borderline. 
Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria 300.6 (F48.1)
A. The presence of persistent or recurrent experiences of depersonalization, derealiza-
tion, or both:
1.Depersonalization:  Experiences of unreality, detachment, or being an outside ob-