ABSTRACT
The chapter begins with a historical overview of the ICDs and DSMs, highlighting their origins, their interactions, and the evolution especially of their categorizations of dissociation and dissociative disorders. This is followed by a history of the evolution of the definition of dissociation as found in the ICDs and DSMs. Dissociation is conceptually divided into five different kinds: 1. dissociative multiplicity; 2. amnesia; 3. depersonalization/derealization; 4. sensorimotor dissociation; 5. others. This makes for five historical ‘streams’ through the various ICDs and DSMs. Dissociation in sections beyond the dissociative disorders is then discussed, with special attention to differential diagnosis. A ‘thumbnail summary’ follows. The chapter concludes with a discussion of outstanding issues and debates, followed by some open questions.
