Split And 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

Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously referred to as Multiple Personality Disorder, is a psychological illness that has raised a lot of controversy and led researchers to question its validity. This disorder has been recorded as early as the 1800’s, but has recently been given more attention to by clinical researchers because of its diagnosis rates. The brain is a very complex organ and certain traumas can lead to the occurrence of this illness. Dissociative identity disorder is an illness in which individuals develop two or more very different personality states. In this paper, I will explain the causes of dissociative identity disorder, outline the symptoms, and elaborate on the

The movie I chose for this paper is titled Frankie & Alice. The main character, played by Halle Berry, was named Frankie. Frankie had a history of traumatic events that took place as she was growing up which resulted in her being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Frankie was unaware that she had any type of disorder until she was picked up by police and chose to receive treatment instead of going to jail. The paper includes a synopsis of the movie, along with an analysis of the symptoms Frankie’s character experienced to lead to her diagnosis. Also included are evidences about dissociative identity disorder and what may lead to its diagnoses in an individual. Prevalence of the diagnoses along with treatment selections for the diagnoses is also discussed.

In the film, “Frankie and Alice,” the viewer is not only able to see the manifestation of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) but also its momentary yet lasting effects on the life of a person living with it. The film also serves as a catalyst for discussing the nature of disassociation, why there is such a need for debate on dissociative episodes, and how DID challenges the very existence of a “personal identity.” One’s personal identity can be defined as having continuity and making possible the unification of “earlier and later parts of subjectivity and, viewed from the outside, of persons and lives” (Radden 133).

Dissociative identity disorder is a condition of mystery that is not clearly understood because of its way of presenting in a patient. In this research article there will be in depth analysis of the condition that is so publically recognized by Hollywood but at times ignored by medical professionals. There will analysis of demographics and who is affected more; male or female will also be looked at closely. There will also be a review of what factors predispose individuals to Dissociative Identity Disorder, and how it is diagnosed. There will also be information of how the disorder is treated via therapy and medication. The usual signs and symptoms will also be discussed and

Robert Oxnam published an autobiography called A Fractured Mind in order to educate more people about his illness and to introduce a deeper understanding of Dissociative Identity Disorder. In an article written by Bruce Weber of the New York Times, Oxnam explained how writing the book was a timely challenge because each of his alter personalities wrote their chapter of the story in a first-person narrative (Weber, 2005). The reader learns about Dissociative Identity Disorder by being introduced to Oxnam’s alters, watching their interrelationships develop and recognizing the integration of his fragmented mind.

I would like to further my knowledge on the controversial mental illness identified as Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID. More commonly known as multiple personality disorder, it has been a mental illness which gained attention from being the main focus in a variety of Hollywood’s films, aside from what has been portrayed in films I have little insight to what this disorder is.

Through out the years there has been many disorders that continue to be diagnosed on people, many can be difficult to deal with. Some of these disorders can be uncontrollable and can make it harder on the patients who are trying to get better. Disorders are not sicknesses that can be cured and gone with a couple of doses of medicine, disorders are serious problems a person has to deal with usually if not for a large amount of time, it can be every day for the rest of their life. Sometimes they can worsen with time but others can better as well. Dissociative identity disorder is one of the many disorders which is uncontrollable and difficult to deal with. Patients with this disorder suffer from many symptoms and because of that they can find it hard to live their every day life on their own. Dissociative Identity Disorder has a background that shows that it is caused by many psychological reasons, many cases and stories also prove the same but there is always people who disagree and believe the disorder is unreal.

Most of the time, Dissociative Identity Disorder is brought upon a person due to him or her experiencing traumatic events, mostly in their childhood. Although, not everyone who goes through distressing and emotionally disturbing events and dissociation, develops DID (Aldridge-Morrison 53). Defense mechanisms contribute to why someone develops, because they can not cope with their behaviors. Defense mechanisms are mental processes where their mind unconsciously avoids conscious anxiety of conflicts (Bray Haddock 147). That results in the patient constructing a victim, “splitting,” or protective identity. Victim identity is the identity that experiences the traumatic events so that the main person and other identities do not have memory of it or have to go through it. The “splitting” identity is the one identity who acts childish, so that it keeps the protective and victim identities away from gaining control over the host’s body and mind. The identity that shields and defends against awareness of disturbing events and environmental threats as its role is the protective identity (Aldridge-Morrison 56). The most effective defense mechanism that contributes to the development of DID is dissociation, being in a state of disconnection or feeling disconnection towards something. As well as trying to position pain, anger, sadness somewhere else or blocking the painful memories, like denial, repression, sublimation etc, which are defense mechanism (

That statement says how much different the disorder makes a person than the rest of society ("Dissociative Living..."). Patients don't cognitively know when they switch personalities. One person who has had the disorder for several years stated, "I'll try calling to them, closing my eyes and searching for them, eating foods they like, and listening to their favorite songs" ("What Does a Switch Feel Like?: Dissociative Identity Disorder Forum"). Searching for personalities is the only thing someone can do to find themselves, or the person they want to be when they have D.I.D. The subjects don't only loose a sense of themselves, "They loose connections with family and friends" ("Dissociative Living..."). Not only the person themselves are lost, but their loved ones are as well, both mentally and even physically. Patients have trouble even recognizing friends and family in reality. You might begin to figure out why one with the disorder would want to avert to self harm or even suicide. Living alone with multiple personalities can kill you from inside. Similar to a disease.

He has been seeing a psychiatrist, Dr. Karen Fletcher, who has been both assisting Kevin with his disorder, as well as studying him to better understand DID. Kevin appears to be fully aware of his disorder (from what little we see of him), but he is unaware of what his other personalities have been doing when they “steal the light” (consciousness). Near the end of the movie he is convinced, without any substantial evidence, that he killed his psychiatrist, Karen Fletcher, and asks the main protagonist to kill him. This points towards Kevin understanding that his other personalities are capable of killing another human being without his knowledge or consent and thus, points towards a legitimate understanding of what his disorder can cause “him” to

In general, Dissociative Identity Disorder is considered to have many symptoms that are noticeable, though can vary person to person. The basic symptoms include having two or more personalities in one physical body, dissociative amnesia which causes gaps in the memory with changing of personalities, and severe distress from the disorder itself. () Kevin experiences some of these symptoms in the movie, mainly having more than two personalities in one

The presence of dissociative identity disorder in the media is more common than one may presume. In the media, the portrayal of the disorder is very negative. The way the media shows the disorder only builds on the stigmatization already made for the disorder which is harmful and negative towards the people diagnosed with the disorder. Some of these portrayals include the movie Split and the television show Criminal Minds. Both of these and many other films show negative portrayals of people diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder.

In my opinion, the movie did a good job making the character interesting and very defined when it comes to his personalities. The depiction of the different personalities was executed very well. The fact that he chose to have drastically different personalities and with every personality even the needs of the body changed for example, the vision becoming bad or becoming diabetic. But, I don’t think it was a good depiction of a real-life person with dissociative identity disorder. In real-life, someone with this disorder/disability doesn’t have that drastic of a change or it’s not that noticeable whereas the movie makes very exaggerated. People who really have this disorder/disability don’t have such dramatic personalities nor are violent or can be danger to society. The depiction of 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