Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (or DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, is where an individual displays two or more specific identities/personalities that have their own unique ways of interaction. There are several factors that appear to be the cause of Dissociative Identity Disorder: Overwhelming stress; inability to separate one's memories, perceptions, or identity from conscious awareness; abnormal psychological development, and insufficient protection and nurture during childhood (Merck). Trauma and abuse are also among the top reasons that DID appears to be caused by. Throughout history people have thought DID sufferers were “possessed” or “inhabited by devils,” and the idea still shows today (Wilson 116).

The first time that DID was widely recognized was in 1957 in the Joanne Woodward film The Three Faces of Eve (Haddock 10). The film was about a woman who was depressed and suffering from headaches and blackouts. She saw a psychiatrist at one point and they discovered that two other personalities existed within her. The main purpose of dissociation is to take memories or emotions that are directly associated with trauma and separate them from the conscious self (Haddock 11). In this film, the woman’s depression led her to develop multiple personalities in order to rid her conscious self of the negative feelings.

There is a wide range of symptoms that are indicators of Dissociative Identity Disorder, but the few that are the most common include anxiety, depression, panic attacks, change in pulse, and time distortions. These may appear separate or in addition to each other to indicate a possibility for DID. Most of the time, when people are diagnosed with DID, they are in therapy for other problems they are having such as depression or chaotic lifestyles (Haddock 56). When the therapist notices these symptoms they typically will investigate further to find out whether these problems are isolated or part of DID. When clients tell therapists that they were abused as a child, this is one of the key things that can lead to DID, and the therapist will need to find out whether DID is a result of this. About 97-98% of adults with DID report having been abused during childhood (Merck), so this is a cause for concern to therapists.

Diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder requires enduring and highly involved psychological interviews. Doctors may use hypnosis or drug facilitation in order to increase the likelihood of the doctor encountering a secondary personality (Merck). Once a patient is diagnosed with DID, the main aim is to suppress the symptoms and ensure the safety of the individual. There are no medications that can treat this disorder, so different types of therapy are required. Such therapies include: Psychotherapy, Cognitive therapy, Family therapy, Clinical Hypnosis, and Psychodynamic therapy.

Psychotherapy is often emotionally painful and the individual may experience emotional crises when recalling events and memories during therapy. Hypnosis can be used with this therapy, and it is usually performed for two or more sessions per week for three to six years (Merck). Cognitive therapy typically challenges the client’s distorted

and irrational beliefs, it helps the client understand the connection between certain feelings and behavior, and even homework is assigned for the client to practice skills learned in therapy (Haddock 100). Family therapy and clinical hypnosis can be integrated as an effort with the other therapies.

Psychodynamic