Dissociative Disorders Thesis Topics in Psychiatry
This collection of dissociative disorders thesis topics is designed for MD Psychiatry and DNB Psychiatry candidates who want clinically relevant questions that can be completed within one thesis period using routine psychiatric assessment, neurological evaluation already performed in clinical care, caregiver interviews, emergency records and follow-up data available in a teaching hospital. The topics cover dissociative neurological symptom disorder, dissociative non-epileptic attacks, dissociative amnesia, trance and possession-form presentations, child and adolescent dissociation, trauma, family factors, comorbidity and service pathways. Each topic can be developed into a focused dissociative disorders research topic, a structured psychiatry protocol for dissociative disorders or a submission-ready psychiatry synopsis for dissociative presentations.
Last reviewed and updated: September 2026 · 2026–27 admissions
Dissociative Neurological Symptom Disorder
Association of acute psychosocial stress during the preceding month with motor versus sensory presentation among adults meeting International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision criteria for dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between adults presenting with dissociative weakness and those presenting with dissociative movement symptoms in a teaching hospital psychiatry service: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of recent family conflict with onset of dissociative motor symptoms among adults presenting for first psychiatric assessment: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recent financial stress with recurrent episodes of dissociative weakness during the preceding three months among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of treatment-seeking delay between adults with dissociative neurological symptoms initially presenting to emergency medicine and those initially presenting to psychiatry: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of previous normal neurological investigations with delay in psychiatric consultation among adults diagnosed with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of number of prior medical consultations with duration of untreated dissociative neurological symptoms among adults referred from neurology or general medicine: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of inpatient admission frequency between adults with dissociative weakness and adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks during the preceding six months: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of symptom onset following interpersonal conflict with emergency department attendance among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of unemployment with functional dependence during the preceding month among adults presenting with dissociative motor symptoms: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of chronic family caregiving responsibility with onset of dissociative neurological symptoms among adults presenting to a government teaching hospital: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of symptom duration between men and women meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative neurological symptom disorder at first psychiatric consultation: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of educational attainment with number of non-psychiatric consultations before diagnosis among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of rural residence with treatment-seeking delay among adults presenting with dissociative neurological symptoms to a tertiary teaching hospital: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of prior faith-healer consultation with longer duration of untreated dissociative neurological symptoms among adults presenting for psychiatric treatment: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family attribution of symptoms to supernatural causes with delay in psychiatric referral among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of repeated symptom episodes during the preceding year with school, household or occupational absenteeism among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid depressive disorder with greater functional impairment among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid anxiety disorder with recurrent dissociative neurological episodes during the preceding three months among adults attending psychiatry outpatient services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of functional impairment between adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder with and without comorbid depressive or anxiety disorders: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of chronic pain complaints with recurrent dissociative neurological symptoms among adults attending consultation-liaison psychiatry services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of sleep disturbance during the preceding month with frequency of dissociative neurological episodes among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for the disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family overprotection after symptom onset with persistence of activity restriction among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of prolonged bed rest advised before psychiatric referral with current functional dependence among adults diagnosed with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of symptom profile between adults referred from neurology and those referred from general medicine for dissociative neurological symptoms: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of symptom occurrence in the presence of family members with family reinforcement of illness behaviour among adults with recurrent dissociative neurological symptoms: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of previous similar episodes with shorter time to psychiatric diagnosis among adults presenting again with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recent bereavement with onset of dissociative neurological symptoms among adults presenting within three months of the loss: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of clinical presentation between adults with abrupt-onset and gradual-onset dissociative neurological symptoms at first psychiatric assessment: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of baseline duration of illness with persistence of dissociative neurological symptoms after eight weeks of routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Association of family acceptance of the psychiatric explanation at baseline with functional improvement after eight weeks among adults receiving routine care for dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of first psychiatric consultation within one month of symptom onset with symptom resolution at eight weeks among adults receiving routine treatment: a prospective observational study
Association of regular follow-up attendance with return to household, educational or occupational functioning at twelve weeks among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of continued family conflict with persistence of dissociative neurological symptoms at twelve weeks among adults receiving routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of dissociative neurological symptom disorder referrals during the preceding two years according to symptom type, referral department and psychiatric comorbidity: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of dissociative neurological symptom presentations from neurology, emergency medicine and general medicine during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of investigations performed before psychiatric referral among adults diagnosed with dissociative neurological symptom disorder during the preceding year: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of inpatient versus outpatient management among adults diagnosed with dissociative neurological symptom disorder during the preceding two years according to presenting symptom: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of repeat emergency presentations among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder during the preceding year according to comorbidity and previous psychiatric referral: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented psychoeducation and family counselling among adults treated for dissociative neurological symptom disorder during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Dissociative Non-Epileptic Attacks and Episodic Dissociative Presentations
Association of interpersonal conflict during the preceding twenty-four hours with occurrence of dissociative non-epileptic attacks among adults presenting to emergency services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of clinical features between adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks and adults with established epilepsy referred for psychiatric assessment after routine neurological evaluation: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of attack occurrence in crowded or socially stressful settings with recurrence during the preceding month among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family history of epilepsy with treatment-seeking pathway among adults diagnosed with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of previous antiseizure medication exposure before psychiatric diagnosis with delay in recognition of dissociative non-epileptic attacks among adults: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of emergency department utilisation during the preceding six months between adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks and adults with dissociative weakness: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of frequency of attacks during the preceding month with work or school absenteeism among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of perceived stress before attacks with attack frequency during the preceding month among adults diagnosed with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family conflict with clustering of dissociative non-epileptic attacks during the preceding three months among adults attending psychiatry services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid depressive disorder with repeated emergency visits among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of anxiety disorder comorbidity with attack frequency among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of attack-related injuries between adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks and adults with epilepsy during the preceding six months: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of family witnessing attacks with emergency ambulance or hospital use among adults with recurrent dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of perceived family attention after attacks with recurrence frequency among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of prior hospitalisation for attacks with current treatment expectations among adults newly referred to psychiatry for dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of illness beliefs between adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks and adults with other dissociative neurological symptoms: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of family belief in a neurological cause with delayed acceptance of psychiatric referral among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of supernatural explanatory beliefs with prior faith-healer consultation among adults presenting with recurrent dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of examination stress with dissociative non-epileptic attacks among college students presenting during the three months surrounding major examinations: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of marital conflict with attack recurrence during the preceding month among married adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recent bereavement with first onset of dissociative non-epileptic attacks among adults presenting within six months of bereavement: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of sleep deprivation during the preceding week with attack occurrence among adults with recurrent dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of acute medical illness with recurrence of dissociative non-epileptic attacks among adults previously diagnosed with the disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of previous trauma exposure with recurrent dissociative non-epileptic attacks among adults attending a government teaching hospital: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of clinical presentation between adults with brief unresponsiveness and adults with prominent motor activity during dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of attack duration reported by witnesses with emergency department admission among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of baseline attack frequency with persistence of attacks after eight weeks of routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Association of early explanation of the diagnosis to patients and families during routine care with eight-week attack frequency: a prospective observational study
Association of family acceptance of diagnosis with emergency department utilisation during twelve-week follow-up among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a prospective observational study
Association of regular outpatient follow-up with return to work or education at twelve weeks among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a prospective observational study
Association of continued psychosocial stress with persistent attacks at twelve weeks among adults receiving routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Association of comorbid depressive disorder at baseline with attack persistence at twelve weeks among adults receiving routine treatment for dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of dissociative non-epileptic attack presentations during the preceding two years according to age, sex, emergency attendance and referral source: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of emergency investigations among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks and adults with other dissociative neurological presentations during the preceding year: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of antiseizure medication use before diagnosis among adults subsequently diagnosed with dissociative non-epileptic attacks during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of psychiatric comorbidity among adults treated for dissociative non-epileptic attacks during the preceding two years according to depressive, anxiety and substance use disorders: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of first-follow-up attendance between adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks and adults with dissociative motor symptoms during the preceding year: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of recurrent emergency attendance among adults with dissociative non-epileptic attacks during the preceding year according to prior psychoeducation and psychiatric follow-up: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of educational or occupational disruption among adolescents and young adults diagnosed with dissociative non-epileptic attacks during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented family counselling among adults diagnosed with dissociative non-epileptic attacks during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Dissociative Amnesia, Trance and Possession Presentations
Association of recent psychosocial stress with onset of dissociative amnesia among adults meeting International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision criteria for dissociative amnesia: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of clinical presentation between adults with localised dissociative amnesia and adults with broader autobiographical memory loss at first psychiatric assessment: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of interpersonal conflict with onset of autobiographical memory loss among adults diagnosed with dissociative amnesia: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recent bereavement with dissociative amnesia among adults presenting within six months of loss of a close family member: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of trauma exposure with duration of autobiographical memory loss among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative amnesia: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of previous dissociative episodes with recurrence of dissociative amnesia during the preceding year among adults receiving psychiatric care: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family response to memory loss with treatment-seeking delay among adults presenting with dissociative amnesia: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of prior neurological investigations with delay in psychiatric diagnosis among adults presenting with dissociative amnesia: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of treatment-seeking pathways between adults with dissociative amnesia and adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of family attribution to supernatural causes with prior faith-healer consultation among adults presenting with dissociative amnesia: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Clinical profile of adults presenting with dissociative trance according to precipitating stressor, duration, recurrence and family interpretation of the episodes: a cross-sectional observational study
Association of family conflict with recurrent dissociative trance episodes during the preceding three months among adults attending psychiatry services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of religious or cultural setting of the first episode with family interpretation of dissociative trance among adults presenting to a teaching hospital: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of psychiatric help-seeking between adults with dissociative trance first taken to faith healers and those first taken to medical practitioners: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of rural versus urban residence with first help-seeking source among adults presenting with dissociative trance: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of educational attainment with supernatural explanatory beliefs among adults presenting with dissociative trance episodes: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recurrent trance episodes with occupational or household disruption during the preceding three months among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative trance disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid depressive disorder with recurrence of dissociative trance episodes among adults attending psychiatry outpatient services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid anxiety disorder with sleep disturbance among adults presenting with recurrent dissociative trance: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recent interpersonal loss with onset of dissociative trance among adults presenting within three months of the stressor: a cross-sectional analytical study
Clinical profile of adults presenting with possession-form dissociative episodes according to setting, precipitating stressors, recurrence and family explanatory model: a cross-sectional observational study
Association of family belief in possession with delay in psychiatric consultation among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for possession-form dissociative disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of prior faith-healer consultation with number of episodes before psychiatric presentation among adults with possession-form dissociative disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between adults with possession-form dissociative disorder and adults with dissociative trance disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of marital conflict with recurrent possession-form dissociative episodes among married adults attending psychiatry services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family stress related to financial hardship with recurrence of possession-form dissociative episodes during the preceding three months: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of episode occurrence during religious gatherings with continued supernatural attribution among adults with possession-form dissociative disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid depressive disorder with functional impairment among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for possession-form dissociative disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family acceptance of psychiatric explanation at baseline with reduction in episode frequency after eight weeks of routine care: a prospective observational study
Association of prior faith-healer consultation with follow-up attendance at eight weeks among adults receiving routine psychiatric treatment for dissociative trance or possession-form disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline family conflict with persistence of dissociative trance episodes after twelve weeks of routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Association of early psychiatric consultation within one month of onset with functional recovery at twelve weeks among adults with dissociative trance disorder: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of dissociative amnesia presentations during the preceding two years according to precipitating stressor, referral source and psychiatric comorbidity: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of dissociative trance and possession-form presentations during the preceding two years according to age, sex, residence and first help-seeking source: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of faith-healer consultation documented among adults with dissociative trance, possession-form disorder and dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of emergency presentations for dissociative trance or possession-form episodes during the preceding year according to episode setting and disposition: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of psychiatric comorbidity among adults with dissociative amnesia, trance and possession-form disorders during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of treatment-seeking delay between adults with dissociative amnesia and adults with possession-form dissociative disorder during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented family explanatory models among adults with dissociative trance or possession-form presentations during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of follow-up attendance among adults with dissociative amnesia, trance and possession-form disorders during the preceding year according to family involvement: a record-based study
Dissociative Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Association of examination-related stress with onset of dissociative neurological symptoms among adolescents presenting during the three months surrounding major school examinations: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of clinical presentation between adolescents with dissociative weakness and adolescents with dissociative non-epileptic attacks attending a child psychiatry service: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of school bullying during the preceding year with dissociative symptoms among adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria for a dissociative disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family conflict with school absenteeism during the preceding three months among adolescents diagnosed with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of academic failure with onset of dissociative episodes among adolescents presenting within three months of examination results: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of parental conflict with recurrent dissociative episodes during the preceding three months among adolescents attending a teaching hospital child psychiatry clinic: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of parental overprotection after symptom onset with continued school absence among adolescents with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a parent-adolescent cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family belief in supernatural causation with delayed psychiatric consultation among adolescents presenting with dissociative symptoms: a parent-adolescent cross-sectional analytical study
Association of prior faith-healer consultation with duration of untreated dissociative symptoms among adolescents attending child psychiatry services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of treatment-seeking pathways between adolescents with dissociative disorders from rural and urban backgrounds: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of recent school change with onset of dissociative symptoms among adolescents presenting within six months of relocation: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of hostel residence with dissociative episodes among adolescents experiencing academic or interpersonal stress: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of cyberbullying during the preceding six months with dissociative symptoms among adolescents attending child psychiatry services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of excessive parental academic expectations with recurrent dissociative episodes among adolescents during the current academic year: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of school attendance between adolescents with dissociative disorders and adolescents with anxiety disorders attending the same child psychiatry service: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of school refusal with dissociative non-epileptic attacks among adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria for a dissociative disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid depressive disorder with deliberate self-harm thoughts documented during routine assessment among adolescents with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of comorbid anxiety disorder with sleep disturbance among adolescents meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of parental psychiatric illness with recurrence of dissociative symptoms among adolescents during the preceding three months: a parent-adolescent cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family history of dissociative or similar unexplained episodes with adolescent dissociative disorder presentation: a parent-adolescent cross-sectional analytical study
Association of recent bereavement with dissociative symptom onset among adolescents presenting within six months of loss of a close family member: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of chronic medical illness with dissociative symptoms among adolescents referred from paediatrics for unexplained neurological or episodic complaints: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of dissociative presentations between adolescents referred from paediatrics and those referred from neurology: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of repeated medical investigations before psychiatric referral with school absence among adolescents diagnosed with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of symptom onset at school with ambulance or emergency department utilisation among adolescents with dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of peer witnessing of dissociative episodes with subsequent school avoidance among adolescents diagnosed with a dissociative disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of baseline school absenteeism with return to regular school attendance after eight weeks of routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Association of parental acceptance of diagnosis at baseline with reduction in dissociative episode frequency at eight weeks among adolescents receiving routine care: a prospective observational study
Association of regular follow-up attendance with return to academic activities at twelve weeks among adolescents treated for dissociative disorders: a prospective observational study
Association of continuing family conflict with persistence of dissociative symptoms at twelve weeks among adolescents receiving routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline examination stress with recurrence of dissociative symptoms during twelve-week follow-up among school-going adolescents: a prospective observational study
Association of parental accompaniment at first consultation with twelve-week treatment retention among adolescents newly diagnosed with dissociative disorders: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of dissociative disorder presentations among children and adolescents during the preceding two academic years according to age, sex and symptom type: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of adolescent dissociative presentations during examination and non-examination months over the preceding two academic years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of referral sources for adolescent dissociative disorders during the preceding two years according to paediatrics, neurology, emergency medicine and direct psychiatry attendance: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of school absenteeism documented among adolescents with dissociative disorders during the preceding two academic years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of investigations performed before psychiatric diagnosis among adolescents with dissociative neurological symptoms during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of faith-healer or traditional-healer consultation documented among adolescents with dissociative disorders during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of psychiatric comorbidity between adolescents with dissociative non-epileptic attacks and those with dissociative motor symptoms during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented parent counselling and school-related advice among adolescents treated for dissociative disorders during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Trauma, Family Factors, Comorbidity and Service Pathways
Association of adverse childhood experiences with recurrent dissociative symptoms during adulthood among patients meeting International Classification of Diseases Eleventh Revision criteria for a dissociative disorder: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of childhood emotional neglect with adult dissociative neurological symptom disorder among patients attending psychiatry outpatient services: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of childhood physical abuse with recurrent dissociative episodes during the preceding year among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of previous traumatic events with earlier age at onset of dissociative symptoms among adults attending a government teaching hospital: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of trauma exposure history between adults with dissociative disorders and adults with anxiety disorders attending the same psychiatry service: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of recent interpersonal violence with dissociative symptom recurrence among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of marital conflict with functional impairment among women presenting with dissociative disorders to a teaching hospital psychiatry service: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of financial dependency on family with treatment-seeking delay among adults diagnosed with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of joint versus nuclear family living with recurrence of dissociative episodes during the preceding three months among adults: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver overprotection with patient functional dependence among adults with recurrent dissociative neurological symptoms: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver belief in supernatural causation with prior faith-healer consultation among adults with dissociative disorders: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of caregiver education level with acceptance of psychiatric diagnosis among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of family stigma toward psychiatric illness with delayed psychiatric referral among adults with dissociative disorders: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of caregiver burden between families of adults with recurrent dissociative neurological symptoms and families of adults with anxiety disorders: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of repeated emergency visits with caregiver work absenteeism among families of adults with recurrent dissociative non-epileptic attacks: a caregiver-patient cross-sectional analytical study
Association of depressive disorder comorbidity with occupational or household impairment among adults with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of anxiety disorder comorbidity with repeated medical consultations during the preceding six months among adults with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of somatic symptom disorder comorbidity with number of unexplained physical complaints among adults diagnosed with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of alcohol use disorder comorbidity with treatment nonadherence during the preceding three months among adults receiving care for dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of deliberate self-harm history with depressive comorbidity among adults meeting diagnostic criteria for dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Comparison of treatment-seeking delay between adults with dissociative disorders first consulting physicians and those first consulting psychiatrists: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of rural residence with faith-healer consultation before psychiatric presentation among adults diagnosed with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of travel distance to the teaching hospital with missed psychiatric follow-up during the preceding three months among adults with dissociative disorders: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of out-of-pocket investigation expenditure before diagnosis with treatment delay among adults presenting with dissociative neurological symptoms: a cross-sectional analytical study
Association of referral from neurology versus emergency medicine with acceptance of psychiatric diagnosis among adults with dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a comparative cross-sectional study
Association of baseline family acceptance of diagnosis with twelve-week outpatient retention among adults receiving routine care for dissociative disorders: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline caregiver support with functional improvement at twelve weeks among adults receiving routine treatment for dissociative neurological symptom disorder: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline depressive comorbidity with persistence of dissociative symptoms at twelve weeks among adults receiving routine psychiatric care: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline faith-healer consultation with first-follow-up attendance among adults newly diagnosed with dissociative disorders: a prospective observational study
Association of baseline duration of untreated illness with symptom persistence at twelve weeks among adults receiving routine treatment for dissociative disorders: a prospective observational study
Retrospective audit of dissociative disorder diagnoses among new psychiatry registrations during the preceding two years according to subtype, age, sex and referral source: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of consultation-liaison referrals for dissociative disorders during the preceding year according to referring department, presenting symptom and final diagnosis: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of emergency presentations for dissociative disorders during the preceding year according to symptom type, precipitating stressor and admission disposition: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of dissociative disorder referrals from neurology, general medicine, paediatrics and emergency medicine during the preceding two years: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of psychiatric comorbidity among adults with dissociative disorders during the preceding two years according to depressive, anxiety, somatic symptom and substance use disorders: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of investigations performed before psychiatric referral among patients with dissociative disorders during the preceding year according to presenting symptom and referring department: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented faith-healer consultation among patients with dissociative disorders during the preceding two years according to residence, subtype and treatment-seeking delay: a record-based study
Retrospective comparison of first-follow-up attendance between patients with dissociative neurological symptom disorder, dissociative non-epileptic attacks and dissociative trance disorder during the preceding year: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of repeated emergency attendance among patients with dissociative disorders during the preceding year according to family support, comorbidity and previous psychiatric follow-up: a record-based study
Retrospective audit of documented psychoeducation, family counselling and follow-up planning among patients treated for dissociative disorders during the preceding twelve months: a record-based study
Not the psychiatry subspeciality you need? Dissociative disorders is one section of our full psychiatry collection — the hub page lists every subspeciality, each with its own free topic list. Updated September 2026.
📌 Updated for 2026–2027 MD Psychiatry Dissociative Disorders admissions
The page has been reviewed for diagnostic clarity, realistic recruitment and outcomes that can be measured using routine psychiatric, neurological and service records.
Most projects require structured psychiatric assessment, symptom characterisation, caregiver information and review of investigations already performed as part of clinical care.
Research-only neuroimaging, electroencephalography or laboratory testing is not required for most feasible topics; the protocol should document how clinically indicated neurological differentials were evaluated.
Publication potential is strongest when diagnosis, subtype, referral pathway, explanatory model, comorbidity and follow-up outcome are defined prospectively rather than inferred after data collection.
Generate a protocol from any topic above
Select Generate Protocol → beside any title in the list above and receive a submission-ready document built around that topic, containing all eighteen components:
Introduction / Synopsis
Research Question
Aim of the Study
Primary Objective
Secondary Objectives
Materials and Methods
Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Sample Size Calculation
Methodology
Statistical Analysis
Ethical Considerations
Review of Literature
References
Gantt Chart / Study Timeline
Patient Information Sheet
Consent Form
Data Collection Form
Already have your thesis title?
Generate the full dissociative disorders protocol directly — objectives, methodology, sample size, statistics, timeline, references and annexures.
Alongside dissociative disorders protocols and synopses, support is also available for departmental presentations, journal club presentations, ethics committee presentations, and posters and oral presentations for medical conferences — for postgraduate residents, board trainees and research scholars across India and the GCC. Prepared by a practising doctor with long experience in medical publishing and thesis supervision.
The topics above work as research questions anywhere — what changes is the document the institution expects, and who approves it before data collection begins. The Gulf equivalent of an Indian synopsis is the dissociative disorders research proposal submitted to an institutional review board, and it ordinarily carries three sections an Indian synopsis does not: a Gantt chart, a budget and resources section, and a Declaration of Helsinki statement.
Board and residency programmes — country by country
Saudi Arabia — SCFHS and the Saudi Board. Residency and fellowship training under the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties includes a research project with a set timeline, and the dissociative disorders research proposal is the document prepared at the outset and cleared by the institutional review board before recruitment starts.
United Arab Emirates — DHA, DOH Abu Dhabi and MOHAP. Residents training in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates prepare a dissociative disorders research protocol for their programme and submit it for institutional review board approval before any data are collected.
Qatar — DHP (formerly QCHP) and Hamad Medical Corporation. A dissociative disorders IRB proposal is reviewed before recruitment, with the ethics section written to the institution's own template rather than a generic one.
Bahrain — NHRA. Trainees turning dissociative disorders research topics into a project need the proposal cleared by their institutional research and ethics committee before fieldwork begins.
Oman — OMSB. Residency programmes under the Oman Medical Specialty Board include a research component, and the dissociative disorders research proposal is the document assessed at the start of it.
Kuwait — KIMS. A dissociative disorders study protocol goes to the institutional committee for approval before the project begins.
Arab Board programmes across the region. The Arab Board carries its own research requirement irrespective of the host country, and the dissociative disorders proposal follows the same structure throughout.
Postgraduate degrees — Malaysia, the Gulf and beyond
Malaysia — MMed, the National Medical Research Register and MREC. A dissociative disorders dissertation proposal for a Master of Medicine programme carried out in a Ministry of Health facility must be registered on the NMRR and approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee before the study begins, and the guidance asks for submission four to six months ahead of data collection. Every investigator on the study team registers on the NMRR as well, so the methodology, ethics and team sections are written in far more detail than an Indian synopsis requires.
PhD and Master's candidates elsewhere. University programmes generally require a full dissociative disorders research proposal of roughly 6,000 to 10,000 words, with an extended literature review, a theoretical framework and a detailed methodology chapter.
PhD and MMed proposals are written individually by a medical doctor and revised until the supervisor accepts them. They are not produced by the automated protocol generator.
🔥 Trending research areas in Dissociative Disorders for 2026–27
Positive clinical diagnosis of functional neurological presentations: work is shifting away from diagnosis by exclusion toward documenting examination or phenomenological features that support the diagnosis.
Dissociative non-epileptic attacks and service pathways: delayed recognition, repeated emergency attendance and unnecessary antiseizure treatment provide measurable outcomes with direct clinical relevance.
Family explanatory models and treatment engagement: acceptance of psychiatric formulation, supernatural attribution and caregiver responses can influence follow-up, disability and use of medical services.
Adolescent dissociation and school functioning: examination stress, bullying, school refusal and family conflict permit low-cost prospective research using routine child psychiatry pathways.
Protocol and synopsis guidance
What a Dissociative Disorders protocol must contain
Define how the diagnosis is established. A dissociative disorder should not be operationalised as unexplained symptoms plus normal investigations. The protocol should name the diagnostic framework, describe the clinical features used to support the diagnosis and state how important neurological, medical, substance-related and other psychiatric differentials are handled. For dissociative neurological symptoms and non-epileptic attacks, document what clinical or neurological assessment forms part of routine care and whether the research includes only patients whose treating team has already established the diagnosis.
Do not use the precipitating stressor as part of the case definition. Family conflict, bereavement, examination stress, trauma exposure or financial difficulty may be exposures of interest, but their presence does not establish a dissociative diagnosis. If these variables are studied, specify the recall period, source of information and whether the exposure occurred before symptom onset.
Separate cultural formulation from psychopathology. In trance or possession-form presentations, record the patient's and family's explanatory model, cultural or religious context and help-seeking pathway without coding culturally sanctioned experiences as disorder merely because they involve altered awareness or possession beliefs. Functional impairment, distress, involuntariness and diagnostic criteria should remain distinct from the explanatory belief itself.
Dissociative Disorders synopsis versus Dissociative Disorders protocol
The synopsis states the clinical question and broad plan. It should identify the dissociative subtype, study design, population, principal exposure or outcome, major comorbidities and the broad approach to diagnosis. For non-epileptic attacks, it should already clarify whether established epilepsy is excluded, separately analysed or allowed as a comorbidity.
The protocol must specify the diagnostic evidence and chronology. It should define onset, recurrence, attack frequency, functional impairment, treatment-seeking delay and follow-up outcomes using fixed time windows. It should also state how witness reports, emergency notes, neurological records and caregiver interviews will be reconciled when they differ.
Avoid circular inference. If family conflict is being tested as an exposure, it should not also be required to diagnose the disorder. If repeated normal investigations form part of a service-pathway outcome, they should not be presented as proof that the diagnosis is correct. Diagnosis and explanatory variables must remain analytically separate.
Sample size and statistical analysis
The patient is usually the unit of analysis. Multiple attacks, emergency visits or family reports from the same patient are repeated observations and should not automatically be counted as independent participants. If attack-level analysis is planned, the statistical method must account for clustering within patients.
Match the method to the outcome. Episode frequency may be count data, functional recovery may be binary or ordinal, and treatment-seeking delay is often skewed time data. Group comparisons and regression models should therefore be selected according to distribution and scale rather than using the same test for every variable. Important confounders may include age, sex, subtype, comorbidity, duration of illness, prior treatment and referral source.
Association does not establish causation. Cross-sectional findings linking trauma, family conflict, faith-healer consultation or supernatural explanatory beliefs with symptom persistence cannot establish that these factors caused the disorder. Prospective follow-up can establish temporal order more clearly, but residual confounding still needs to be acknowledged.
1. How do I choose a feasible Dissociative Disorders thesis topic?
For 2026–2027 admissions, choose a subtype that the department sees regularly and an outcome already documented in routine care, such as treatment-seeking delay, emergency attendance, functional impairment, follow-up retention or return to school or work. Topics become more feasible when the diagnosis is already established clinically and the thesis studies service pathways, comorbidity, family factors or prospective outcome rather than trying to create a new diagnostic test.
2. Which study designs are accepted for Dissociative Disorders research?
Cross-sectional observational and analytical studies, comparative cross-sectional studies, prospective observational follow-up and retrospective record-based audits are suitable when aligned with the objective. A prospective design is particularly useful for studying symptom persistence, functional recovery and treatment retention because baseline exposures can be recorded before the outcome occurs.
3. What should I settle with my guide before finalising the topic?
Settle the diagnostic framework, dissociative subtype, source of diagnostic confirmation, important neurological and psychiatric differentials, exposure recall period, definition of recurrence, measure of functional impairment and the precise follow-up endpoint. For non-epileptic attacks, decide in advance how coexisting epilepsy, previous antiseizure treatment and witness descriptions will be handled.
4. How should trauma, family conflict and supernatural explanatory beliefs be measured?
Use clearly defined questions or validated instruments where available, and record timing relative to symptom onset. Trauma history should not be elicited casually or repeatedly without a clinical reason, and the protocol should distinguish lifetime trauma from recent stressors. Family belief in supernatural causation should be recorded as an explanatory model or help-seeking factor rather than as evidence of psychopathology in itself.
5. What is the difference between a synopsis and a protocol for these topics?
The synopsis is the concise academic proposal submitted for approval, while the protocol is the detailed operational document used to recruit, assess and analyse participants consistently. Dissociative-disorder protocols need explicit rules for diagnosis, neurological differentials, subtype classification, episode counting, exposure timing, family reports, functional outcomes and handling of culturally framed presentations.
6. What are the main ethics issues in research on Dissociative Disorders?
Capacity and voluntariness should be assessed at the time of consent, particularly when a participant presents during an acute attack or altered state. For minors, guardian consent and developmentally appropriate assent from about seven years should be obtained where applicable. Eligible record-based work may receive a consent waiver after ethics approval. Observational studies should not add research-only radiation, contrast, electroencephalography or venepuncture unless separately justified; if blood sampling is included, an appropriate blood-volume limit should be stated.
Trauma, interpersonal violence, abuse, self-harm and substance use may emerge during assessment, so the protocol should include a named safeguarding and clinical escalation pathway. Separate consent is required for photographs, audio or video, including recordings of attacks. Confidentiality is especially important for culturally sensitive possession or trance narratives and for information supplied by relatives that the participant may not wish to be shared.
7. Why is a normal neurological work-up not enough to diagnose a Dissociative Disorder?
Normal investigations can make some neurological or medical explanations less likely, but they do not by themselves establish a dissociative diagnosis. The research protocol should rely on the treating team's positive clinical diagnosis using the stated diagnostic framework and should document how relevant differentials were assessed. This is particularly important for dissociative non-epileptic attacks because epilepsy, syncope, sleep disorders, metabolic disturbances and other episodic conditions may coexist with or resemble the presentation.
A second problem is verification bias created by the clinical pathway. Patients with atypical or severe presentations may receive more investigations than those with typical presentations, so the number of normal tests cannot be interpreted as a measure of diagnostic certainty. Investigation burden is better studied as a service-use outcome than as the reference standard for the psychiatric diagnosis.
8. Can these topics be used for PhD proposals or board research projects outside the Indian MD pathway?
Yes, but the scope and structure differ. A PhD proposal generally requires a broader research gap, conceptual framework and programme of work than an MD synopsis. Focused dissociative-disorder questions can also be adapted to the mandatory research-project or proposal requirements used by SCFHS and the Saudi Board, the Arab Board of Health Specializations, and DHP, DHA, DOH and MOHAP-linked training programmes, subject to the required local format, supervision and ethics process.
9. When should I register a Dissociative Disorders thesis protocol?
Registration should occur after the guide has approved the final question, diagnostic definitions, variables and recruitment source but before prospective enrolment or research data collection begins. Ethics approval, institutional registration and university submission should follow the local sequence. Retrospective studies should define the record period, eligibility criteria and analysis plan before the dataset is extracted.
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