Dissociative Disorders in Older adults / Seniors

Key things to know What the evidence shows
How common is it? Not established diagnosed DD
Is it more common among older adults / seniors? Dissociative symptoms appear to decrease with age in some studies; longstanding disorders can persist
Are older adults / seniors at higher risk? Trauma history remains relevant; current epidemiology sparse
How much higher is the risk? NE
How often can it be missed? Very High
Does it show up differently among older adults / seniors? Yes
How might it look different? Memory gaps may be attributed to ageing/dementia; depersonalization may be mistaken for anxiety or neurological illness
What commonly occurs alongside it? PTSD; depression; anxiety
What can it be confused with? Dementia; delirium; seizures; medication effects; depression
Common screening tool DES-II — Dissociative Experiences Scale-II
Separate screening tool for older adults / seniors None established
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