Which of the following is a common characteristic of all dissociative disorders?

• A. Obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors
• B. Persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities
• C. A disruption or discontinuity in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception
• D. Recurrent episodes of excessive energy and decreased need for sleep

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand what dissociative disorders are. These disorders involve disruptions in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception, which means a person may experience a disconnection from their thoughts, memories, or sense of self.
2. Step 2: Review the options given and identify which symptoms align with dissociative disorders. For example, obsessive thoughts and repetitive behaviors are characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder, not dissociative disorders.
3. Step 3: Recognize that persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest are typical of depressive disorders, and recurrent episodes of excessive energy and decreased need for sleep are features of bipolar disorder.
4. Step 4: Focus on the option describing a disruption or discontinuity in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception, as this directly matches the core feature of dissociative disorders.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the common characteristic of all dissociative disorders is this disruption or discontinuity, which differentiates them from other psychological disorders.