How Does Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder (DID) accounts for an estimated 1% of the general population and up to 20% of inpatient and outpatient psychiatric populations (Brand & Loewenstein, 2010). DID can also be triggered and manifested in individuals which is why trauma is especially prevalent in individuals diagnosed with DID; about 71% have experienced childhood physical abuse and 74% sexual abuse (Foote, Smolin, Kaplan, Legatt, & Lipschitz, 2006). Due to trauma being so prevalent in DID many individuals with dissociative disorders suffer from a multitude of psychiatric issues that may include

The phenomenal ability of humans is that we are able to change aspects of our personality by role-playing. Personality shifting is common and something we do everyday from having to go to work and be the boss to coming home and being part of the family. This is one reason why skeptics doubt Dissociative Identity Disorder as a real psychological disorder. Another reason for the skepticism is due to its short history which date back to 1791. The first official report of Dissociative Identity

Dissociative Identity Disorder is a mental disorder where an individual experiences two or more distinct personalities. When an individual is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, one personality has dominant control of an individual. This personality controls how a person may act and how they live everyday life. A person diagnosed with this disease may or may not be aware of their alternate personalities. Each personality is contrasting of each other with distinctive likes and dislikes. They can differ in eyesight, prescriptions, language, and education levels. Many people who suffer from Dissociative Identity Disorder have experienced severe childhood trauma. Many Psychologist and others argue

Today, dissociative identity disorder is a relatively popular diagnosis with 20,000 cases recorded between 1980 and 1990. Researchers currently believe that from 0.01-10% of the general population has this mental illness. Dissociative identity disorder occurs 3-9 times more frequently in women than in men (science.jrank.org, 2015). Empirical studies in the general population and in different clinical samples using sound instruments have indicated that dissociative symptoms do not differ between the genders. The seemingly dominance of dissociative disorders in women may also depend on the socio-cultural context, because men with dissociative disorders usually do not enter the general health system, but rather the legal system or jailed (Spitzer & Freyberger, 2008, p.

Multiple personality disorder is, in most cases, related directly to physical and sexual abuse as a child. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose a young child with this disorder because their personalities aren't fully developed at this stage. Another related cause of dissociative disorder is trauma. Whether it be because of, sexual abuse, rape, combat, natural disasters, accidents, concentration camp experiences, loss of loved ones, financial catastrophes or severe marital discord (educationplanet.com). Kluft and Putnam are two psychologists who have proposed a list of causes of multiple personality disorder.

The disorder I chose to research for my paper was Dissociative Identity Disorder. Dissociative Identity Disorder is formerly known as multiple personality disorder and is characterized as an individual presenting two or more alternate personalities. Those said personalities are said to essentially help an individual escape the stress and overwhelming struggles of everyday life (Traub, 2009). As for my topic I chose to explore was whether or not Dissociative Identity Disorder even existed.

Dissociative Identity Disorder formerly known as multiple personality disorder is a disorder that researchers and doctors have shown immense interest in over the past century. Even though DID has evident symptoms and causes, some professionals in the healthcare system doubt that this disorder is real or it even exist. Dissociation is something that happens to every one of us; most of the time this is like day dreaming or being lost in thought while doing something like a project. However, DID is a more complicated form of dissociation. In this state, there is a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity or perception of the environment (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV). When this

Before taking this psychology class, I had been skeptical of the Dissociative Identity Disorder. I had the same experiences as most people from the media. I had seen Sybil, the 1976 film starring Sally Field, and read “The Minds of Billy Milligan” while I was in high school. The subject piqued my curiosity, but I always saw it as a little too fantastical, especially the Milligan case, to possibly be legitimate. I merely discounted DID as a pseudo-disorder extremely clever individuals could use to avoid consequences or prosecution. A decade or so later, I found myself dating a woman who, after a couple months of the relationship, revealed that she was, in fact, diagnosed with DID. Needless to say, the relationship was tumultuous, unhealthy and very unfulfilling. Nonetheless, even with first hand experience, I was still left with tinge of doubt whether my ex’s case was “real”, or rather a well-crafted ruse to collect disability income. Worse, might the therapist be trying to his mark?

Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously called multiple personality disorder, is a severe form of separation. It is the most dramatic, least common, and most controversial dissociative disorder (King, 2012, p.569). Individuals that suffer from this disorder have more than one distinct personality, or identity. One of the identities is dominant, each identity takes over at different times. One identity may or may not be aware of the other, if someone has more than two, the identities may be aware of only certain others or none at all. If a situation is thought to be too violent, traumatic, or painful to assimilate with their main personality, the person with dissociate themselves and switch to another identity.

My topic of choice for this research paper is Dissociative Identity Disorder or DID. This appellation is rather new; therefore, most are more familiar with the disorder's older, less technical name: Multiple Personality Disorder or MPD. When first presented with the task of selecting a topic on which to center this paper, I immediately dismissed Dissociative Identity Disorder (which for the sake of brevity will be referred to as DID for the remainder of this paper) as a viable topic due to the sheer scope of the disorder. However after an exhaustive examination of other prospective topics, I found myself back at my original choice. There are several reasons why I chose DID. The foremost of which is the widespread fascination of this

Dissociative identity disorder, which was formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is a disorder that a person seems to experience at least two or more personalities. Dissociative identity disorder is usually the effect of severe trauma during a person’s early childhood. This trauma is usually repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse to a child. The children that are the receiving end of this abuse tend to use this dissociative aspect as a coping mechanism. Some people who suffer from dissociative identity disorder also may have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. The different personalities of a person with dissociative identity disorder, have their own race, sex, and age. They

Dissociative Identity Disorder is characterized by a disruption and or discontinuity in the normal integration of consciousness memory, identity, emotion, perception, body representation motor control and behavior. Dissociative symptoms can potential disrupts every area of physiological functioning (Association, 2013).

Traumas, during the early stages of human life span development are amongst the causes responsible for a dissociative identity disorder (Macintosh, 2013). Most of the individual’s affected, suffered repeated physical or sexual abuse during childhood, were neglected and or even abandoned (Macintosh, 2013). In serious cases, many of these children were abused during rituals in sects or cult’s (Macintosh, 2013). Major trauma experienced

Dissociative Identity is the state in which a person becomes separated from reality. People with dissociative identity disorder also known as DID don’t notice their being altered. These different personalities known as “alters” cause changes in their manners, how they act, talk and control individuals at unknown moments. Victims often have zero recollection when being controlled under these alters. It appears to be caused by severe child abuse. “researchers and expert observers of the field now say that multiple personality may be the basis for a new understanding of the nature of the mind and its elusive relation to body and brain function.” is defined as a disorder in which two or more distinct personalities coexist within one and the

This research paper aims to explore the mental disease known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously known as multiple personality disorder. I explore the meaning, symptoms, and effects of DID. My research describes those diagnosed with DID and the probable reasons of why they have the disorder. This study also explains the many different treatments and the effects those treatments might have on a person that has the disorder. I include a research study done on someone diagnosed with DID, the method used to help treat her, and the results of her treatment. Lastly, I state my opinion on DID and the methods I believe with help people prevent, treat, and cope with