Final answer:
Ned is likely suffering from depersonalization/derealization disorder, a dissociative disorder characterized by feeling detached from oneself. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and possibly medication for any accompanying anxiety or depression.
Step-by-step explanation:
The experiences described by Ned, involving a sense of feeling 'detached from himself' without a loss of self-awareness or memory, and feeling like a robot disconnected from his movements, point toward a likely case of depersonalization/derealization disorder. This mental illness falls under the category of dissociative disorders, wherein a person feels disconnected from their thoughts, feelings, body, or their environment. This sense of detachment from oneself, also called depersonalization, can result in feeling like an observer of one's own body or thoughts, and often comes with significant distress and impairment in social and personal functioning.
Treatment for depersonalization/derealization disorder could involve psychotherapy, sometimes known as talk therapy, which can help individuals confront and understand their condition, thereby learning coping strategies to deal with the symptoms. In some cases, medication might also be prescribed to manage any accompanying anxiety or depression. An understanding of neurological functions and disorders, synaptic coupling, as well as the impact of mental illnesses like major depression, is important in developing effective treatments for these complex conditions.