Dissociative Disorders in Paediatric Males from Industrial Worker Families : Clinical Presentation and Treatment Challenges - A Case Series

Abstract

Dissociative disorders involve a disruption in the integration of consciousness, emotions and behaviour. Sociocultural factors, adverse childhood experiences, and socioeconomic stressors strongly influence their development and expression in children and adolescents and these influences are more pronounced in industrial and labour sectors. Although dissociative disorders are reported more frequently in females, paediatric males may present with atypical or externalizing symptom patterns, contributing to diagnostic delays and misattribution to neurological or behavioural disorders. We present a case series of four male patients (aged 9–12 years) attending a tertiary-care psychiatric service located in an industrial region. All cases demonstrated mixed dissociative symptomatology, complex psychosocial stressors, and delayed access to psychiatric evaluation. Treatment initiation and continuity were affected by gender-role based emotional suppression, mental health stigma, and limited family awareness. Findings emphasize the need for culturally informed, developmentally appropriate, and gender-responsive assessment and intervention strategies for dissociative presentations in paediatric males.