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Children and Adolescents
Dissociative disorder is widely believed to have its roots in traumatic childhood experience, but its symptomology often goes unrecognized or misdiagnosed in children   Researchers cite several reasons that recognizing symptoms of dissociation in children can be challenging: it may be challenging for children to describe their internal experiences; caregivers may miss signals or desire to conceal their own abusive or neglectful behaviors; symptoms can be subtle or fleeting; disturbances of memory, mood, concentration, etc. associated with dissociation may be confused with symptoms of other disorders.

Researchers posit a number of approaches to improving recognition and understanding of dissociation in children. Recent research has focused on clarifying the neurological basis of symptoms associated with dissociation by studying neurochemical, functional and structural abnormalities that can result from childhood trauma. Others in the field have argued that recognizing disorganized attachment styles in children will help alert clinicians to the possibility dissociative disorders. Clinicians and researchers also stress the importance of using a developmental model to understand both the symptoms and future course of dissociative disorder. In other words, symptoms of dissociation may manifest differently at different stages of child and adolescent development and individuals may be more or less susceptible to developing dissociative symptoms at different ages. Further research into the manifestation and susceptibility of dissociative symptoms throughout development is needed. Related to this developmental model, more research is required to establish whether young patient’s recovery will remain stable over time.