Outcome of Lorazepam-assisted Interview and Psychotherapy in a Middle-aged Female Patient with the Chronic Mixed Dissociative Disorder: A Case Report

Vishnuvardhan Gopalakrishnan; Sumanth T Parameshwaraiah; Vidhyavathi Mallyam; Subhashini Shanmugamurthi; Asha Chandahalli Sannappa

doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10045-00154

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Outcome of Lorazepam-assisted Interview and Psychotherapy in a Middle-aged Female Patient with the Chronic Mixed Dissociative Disorder: A Case Report

Vishnuvardhan Gopalakrishnan, Sumanth T Parameshwaraiah, Vidhyavathi Mallyam, Subhashini Shanmugamurthi, Asha Chandahalli Sannappa

Keywords : Catharsis and positive suggestions, Chronic psychogenic aphonia, Dissociative amnesia, Lorazepam-assisted interview, Trans and possession

Citation Information : Gopalakrishnan V, Parameshwaraiah ST, Mallyam V, Shanmugamurthi S, Sannappa AC. Outcome of Lorazepam-assisted Interview and Psychotherapy in a Middle-aged Female Patient with the Chronic Mixed Dissociative Disorder: A Case Report. J Med Sci 2020; 6 (3):49-50.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10045-00154

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 29-09-2021

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Abstract

Dissociation is a neurotic defense mechanism developed against severe emotional distress and excessive anxiety. Dissociative disorder (DD) is not a single entity, but a wide spectrum of disorders with various subtypes. Typically, patients present with any of one subtype, and cases like dissociative motor disorder comes to medical attention sooner. Contrarily here we are discussing a patient who has symptoms of three subtypes, persisting for a prolonged period. As literature regarding chronic psychogenic aphonia is scarce, we are highlighting the case of a 35-year-old woman with 8 months longstanding history of mixed DD (psychogenic aphonia, dissociative amnesia along with trans and possessional state) because of underlying childhood trauma and multiple conflicts with family members. The focus will be on how lorazepam-assisted interview along with psychotherapy (supportive, catharsis, positive suggestion, and resolution of conflicts) works effectively in a chronic mixed DD.

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