Research Paper On Multiple Personality Disorder

DID falls under the DSM-IV-TR criteria. This includes dissociative amnesia and dissociative fugue. The main feature of this disorder is the that the individual personalities are dissociated, which is why there was a change from multiple personality disorder to DID. The diagnostic criteria for DID, according to the DSM-IV-TR, include the presence of two or more personality states, at least two of these states taking control of the individual’s behavior, and extreme memory loss that is more than just ordinary forgetfulness. All these symptoms should not manifest because of physiological effects like substance abuse or general medical condition (Durand and Barlow, 2016). When a personality dominates an individual’s behavior, it can change the demeanor of the person. Physical changes can be seen in their posture and facial expression. There may even be physical disabilities that form, like in the case of Louis Vivet. The range of identities an individual can have is endless, but most have one alter that is impulsive and sexually driven and typically another that acts as the protector. A switch is a term used to call the transition from one identity to another. It is usually instantaneous and can identified by physical change (Durand and Barlow, 2016). Memory loss also occurs quite frequently because most of the identities are detached from one another. There have been cases where only certain

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a severe condition in which two or more distinct identities or personality states are present in, and alternately take control of an individual. People who suffer from DID often have no recollection of what they have done or said while under the influence of the alternate personalities. Friends, family, and the person with the disorder often have a hard time dealing with DID, because of the sporadic nature of the personalities. DID is a serious disorder that affects a person’s long-term and short-term memory, their own identity, and their self-control.

The DSM 5 elaborates on cultural background as an influence for some clinical presentations of DID. Numerous components of dissociative identity disorder can be affected by the individual 's social foundation. People with this issue may give unmistakable restoratively unexplained neurological side effects, for example, non-epileptic seizures, incapacitates, or tactile misfortune,

Dissociative personality disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is an illness that is characterized by two or more distinct sub-personalities that repeatedly take control of the patient’s conscience and behavior. Each unique personality may exhibit behavior patterns, memories, and social relationships exclusive to that personality. According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, the occurrence of DID is in one percent of the population of the United States (National Alliance of Mental Illness, n.d.). There is a rough estimate of 316 million people in the United States according to the census in 2013. Rendering to this statistic, 3.16 million people have Dissociative Identity Disorder in the United States.

It is believed that dissociative identity disorder has been around for as long as human populations have been around. The most primitive cases of an individual suffering from DID correspond with early cases on Mesmerism. Mesmerism was also known as hypnosis or animal magnetism. There is a reason for these two occurring together in history and that is they have an inherent association. The main thing DID and Mesmerism share is that they both deal with the uncovering of several modified states of consciousness that were out of the ordinary.

Comorbidity is also another major feature of DID. Many individuals with DID often present a comorbid disorder, which could lead to other issues in treatment because the comorbid disorder is often the only one that is treated (DSM-V, 2013). The most common disorder that is diagnosed with DID is PTSD. Depressive disorders, personality disorders, substance-related disorders are just a few other disorders that are often present in an individual with DID (DSM-V, 2013). According to Durand and Barlow (2012), most of the symptoms of DID are also related to the characteristics of borderline

Though it is commonly unheard of, Dissociative Identity Disorder is not as rare as one would assume. Researchers argue the prevalence rate for DID is nearly the same as for Schizophrenia. With about 10% of the population suffering from this disorder only as few as 1% of them are actually diagnosed (Forner, 2009). The lack of biological and physical evidence supporting Dissociative Identity Disorder has left psychologist to rely on intense concentration and clinical skills to comprehend the origins of the disorder. Though each individual diagnosis of DID is completely unique to the person, psychological professionals have found reoccurring themes amongst patients. The central

Previously called Multiple Personality Disorder, Dissociative Identity Disorder occurs when multiple, distinct identities control a single person’s behavior. These identities frequently inhibit the body. Once they leave, though, there are no memories left of the actions that partook while the other identities were in control. Through the years, the report of Dissociative Identity Disorder has increased. Nevertheless, this mental disease continues to raise skepticism.

Dissociative symptoms can potentially disrupt every area of mental functioning. “Dissociation is a disconnection between a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions or sense of who he or she is.” (Wang) There are three similar but very specific branches of dissociative disorders: Dissociative amnesia, Dissociative identity disorder, and depersonalization-derealization disorder. All of these branches share the same core problem, they all make the person affected turn into someone they are not. First, Dissociative amnesia. The main symptom is memory loss that's more severe than normal forgetfulness and that can't be explained by a medical condition. You can't recall information about yourself or events and people in your life, especially from a traumatic time. Next, the most worldly known, Dissociative identity disorder. Formerly known as multiple personality disorder, this disorder is characterized by "switching" to alternate identities. You may feel the presence of two or more people talking or living inside your head, and you may feel as though you're possessed by other identities. Lastly, Depersonalization-derealization disorder. This involves an ongoing or episodic sense of detachment or being outside yourself — observing your actions, feelings, thoughts and self from a distance as though watching a movie (depersonalization). DID is one of the most

Dissociative identity disorder, (Weiten, Dunn and Hammer, 2015) “involves the coexistence in one person of two or more largely complete, and usually very different, personalities.” This disorder is also referred to multiple personality disorder. Individuals with this particular disorder feel that they have numerous identities. For example, each personality have a different name, character traits and physical abilities. Transitions from one personality to the other can occur very suddenly.

My guess would be that when DID was still a fairly new diagnosis, more studies were being done and therefore more cases were publicly open. As it became more well-known, not everyone wants it public that they have DID. One case that wasn’t so long ago was Hershel Walker. In 2008, CNN wrote an article titled, “Hershel Walker reveals many sides of himself.” The legendary formal football player was diagnosed with Dissociative identity disorder. He released his book “Breaking Free” which talks about his disorder and coming terms with it. Walker tells CNN, "I didn't really learn about this until about 10 years ago. My life was out of control. I was not happy, I was very sad, I was angry and I didn't understand why." In his book, he talks about coming terms with his disorder. Walker realized he needed help when he had the urge to kill someone because a car was delivered late. That’s when he seeked help and was diagnosed with

¨MPD patients receive 3.6 diagnoses over 6.8 years before being properly diagnosed¨ (Saks, Behnke 8). One of the causes may be buried trauma that the patient endured (Kluft, Fine 32). For example, childhood abuse is the most well-known theory. There is also a 4 factory theory where the child is first exposed to overwhelming stimuli, then deals with it by using dissociation. The next factor is to then organize these personalities, and finally when there is not enough restorative experiences the patient is officially suffering from multiple personalities (Saks, Behnke 14). DID also results from extreme and repeated trauma and strife during important periods of development during childhood. Unfortunately, this includes sexual abuse and seeing how DID is more common in women, this is perhaps because of the higher rate of sexual abuse in females. This disorder may also be from the trauma from a natural disaster or war (“Cleveland Clinic” 5-6). In order to properly diagnose a patient, the doctor must be able to rule out any physical illnesses that are pre-existing by doing x-rays and blood tests, thus canceling something like a brain disease for example (“Cleveland Clinic” 10-11). The doctor may also use diagnostic tests to see if there are any drug and alcohol intoxications or even any medication side effect that causes DID in the patient (“Cleveland Clinic”

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) also commonly known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) is a severe form of dissociation, a mental process which produces a lack of connection in a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. The dissociative aspect is a coping mechanism of people who may have experienced serious trauma and abuse. The person dissociates themselves from the situation or experience that has been traumatizing for them and made a “companion” within themselves to either protect them, or help them cope with the trauma. Dissociative identity disorder has always been at the top of the list when it comes to the aspect of it being real or not. Some mental health professionals believe that dissociative identity disorder is a phenomenon of another psychiatric problem. The abused person uses a coping mechanism such as creating a people to handle the situations that are happening, and they feel they cannot handle. In one case a person will create a personality to be a protector if they cannot physically defend themselves, or they will a

DID is not a new disorder. However, it has been misunderstood for quite some time. In fact, some psychologists believe that evidence of DID had been inscribed on cave walls during the Paleolithic Era in the form of shamans turning into animals. Furthermore, experts believe that historic reports of demonic possession were actually cases of DID. In 1646, a Swiss physician named Paracelsus reported that he had met a woman who claimed that she had been robbed by her other personality who later had no memory of the robbery. This is known as the first legitimate report of Dissociative Identity Disorder. A few more cases of DID were reported after this, but in 1910, Eugen Bleuler coined the term “schizophrenia”, and suddenly the amount of DID cases significantly decreased. To this day, many people are frequently misdiagnosed with schizophrenia when they are really suffering from DID. This is one of the many reasons why experts are still conducting research regarding this disorder.

There are many cases that can be found in psychological records for multiple personality disorders also, known as dissociative identity disorder. Dissociative Identity, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is a condition in which an individual has a host personality along with at least two or more personalities with each identity having his or her own ideas, memories, thoughts and way of doing things (Bennick). Personality disorders are a group of mental illnesses, they involve thoughts and behaviors that are unhealthy and inflexible. A person with a personality disorder has trouble perceiving and relating to situations and people (Mayo Clinic). This causes significant problems and limitations in relationships, social activities, work and school (Mayo Clinic). In some cases, you may not realize that you have a personality disorder because your way of thinking and behaving seems natural to you, but in all honesty, it’s not. You also might blame others for the challenges you face (Mayo Clinic).