Dissociative identity disorder or DID is a disruption of the identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states.
It is a childhood post-traumatic developmental disorder.
A person’s personality splits between one or more alternative personalities. It is a highly complex disorder.
The symptoms involve changes in behavior, mood, consciousness, attention, understanding abilities, anxiety, memory loss, and difficulty in recalling daily events and crucial personal information. Individuals suffering from DID also believe in an imaginary friend.
They dissociate from the normal perception.
The patient may also undergo out of body experience. It is known as depersonalization. Individuals feel getting detached from their bodies.
Individuals also remain confused about who they are.
About 0.01% to 2% of the people can suffer from DID. Individuals who have DID exhibit the highest rates of early life trauma.
They report emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, early life trauma, rape, and domestic violence.
In DID, different personalities of a person have their specific age, sex, or race. The personalities can even be that of an animal.
The phenomenon of switching also occurs in which every personality reveals itself. It can take seconds to minutes or even days.
DID mostly occurs in a traumatized child who is not able to achieve the normal process of development. Early trauma disturbs development and is the root cause of dissociative identity disorder.
Consider watching this video to know more about what is Schizophrenia…..
The dissociation occurs as a coping mechanism and allows the individual to get distant from the trauma. In childhood abuse, separation is an adaptive response to the trauma.
The child dissociates to protect himself from experiencing the trauma and uses dissociation as a coping technique. Individuals suffering from early childhood abuse find comfort in separating from their dominant personality.
They deal with stressful events by allowing the emergence of their sub-personalities. As time passes, individuals learn alternate behaviors that will enable them to escape anxiety.
The diagnosis depends on the presence of the following symptoms: the presence of two or more personalities which may be mistaken for possession, loss of memory or inability to recall daily events and significant personal information, difficulty in social and occupational functioning, the disturbances are not a part of religious practice, and these symptoms cannot be due to alcohol consumption or medical condition.
This is the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for dissociative identity disorder.
The treatments include psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and adjunctive, or art therapy.
Psychotherapy or talk therapy helps to merge the multiple personalities into one personality. It involves the integration of numerous personalities with the dominant personality.
Therapists talk to the patient and helps them to manage or control the factors that trigger these symptoms.
Hypnotherapy involves the process of clinical hypnosis that helps in reliving memories. It helps to control disturbing behavioral patterns.
The treatment also includes adjunctive therapy or art therapy. Patients create drawings that are a reflection of their emotional states.
These drawings exhibit their sub-personalities. It helps the individuals to express themselves.
There are no specific medicines to cure this disorder. However, the doctor might prescribe antidepressants to deal with depression.
Patients should note down their symptoms in a diary. They should also note the life-changing events and childhood trauma.
The doctor will also ask questions from the patient to diagnose this disorder. People often mistake dissociative identity disorder for possession and black magic.
Doctors should, therefore, educate the patient and the caregivers about the disease for better management.
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!