Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative identity disorder is a mental illness that is typified by the existence of two or more distinctive identities or personality states with at least two of the states periodically taking in charge of the person’s behavior. The disease is complicated and has been formerly labeled as multiple personality disorder. ^[1]

Epidemiology

The exact prevalence is unknown. The disease is more common on people who have previous emotional or psychiatric trauma. ^[2]

Causes

The exact mechanism is not yet understood. The widespread theory is that childhood trauma greatly contributes to its occurrence. The theory implies that a deeply traumatized child may have the tendency to wall off or dissociate which when becomes severe may result to the disorder. ^[3]

Signs and Symptoms

Each personality state is called an “alter” which is completely dissimilar from another alter such as having a distinct age, race and gesture. It may be in the form of animal or person and switching from one alter to another may take minutes to days. ^[4] Importantly, the alter has a power to control the person's actions and view.

Frequently, affected people have memory lapses especially of notable events and may often have blackouts. They may find themselves in a place not knowing how they got there. They are also repeatedly charged of lying as they cannot recall things. They may also not be able to identify themselves in the mirror.

Apart from this, the person may have depression, sleep disorders like insomnia, anxiety, phobias and eating disorders. Some may have suicidal ideation. ^[3][4]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is often done thru an interview conducted by a physician. In the interview, the symptoms have to be adequately elaborated and often the experiences during the childhood years are explored. ^[3]

Treatment

The main treatment is psychotherapy. Hypnosis is often utilized to gain more information about the other states. Another treatment procedure used for patients is called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). Since many other conditions come together with the disorder like anxiety and depression, some drugs are also prescribed. ^[3]  

References:

1.      http://psychcentral.com/disorders/dissociative-identity-disorder-symptoms/

2.      http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/916186-overview#a0199

3.      http://www.medicinenet.com/dissociative_identity_disorder/page3.htm#what_are_causes_and_risk_factors_of_dissociative_identity_disorder

4.      http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorde

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