Dissociative Identity Disorder
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ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
Dissociative Identity Disorder Dissociative identity disorder (DID), formerly known as multiple personality disorder, is one of five dissociative disorders recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV ). Of the dissociative disorders, DID is associated with the most chronic and severe symptomatology. Dissociation is a process wherein a person mentally separates oneself from reality. There are common, everyday dissociative experiences such as daydreaming or “losing oneself” in a good book, for example, but with DID, an individual has typically experienced dissociation during a traumatic event such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, or during times of perceived harm (e.g., invasive medical procedures, natural disasters, and so forth). The dissociation appears to serve as a protective defense mechanism and as a means of self-preservation. The DSM-IV defines DID as follows:
SEE ALSO: Affirmative action, Birth control, Pelvic examination, Sexual harassment, United States Civil Rights Act of 1964
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1. The presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states (each with its own relatively enduring pattern of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and self) 2. At least two of these identities or personality states recurrently take control of the person’s behavior 3. Inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be explained by ordinary forgetfulness 4. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general
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Most individuals who develop DID have likely been exposed to childhood trauma (usually between the ages of 3 and 9), during which time he or she mentally separates from the experience in an effort to avoid emotional and/or physical pain. The different personalities evolve over time as a means of coping with future traumas and feelings of being threatened. It seems the more severe the trauma, the greater the number of personalities that develop. The prevalence of DID is approximately 1% of the population, although about 90% of those with the disorder are completely unaware they have it. It is more frequently diagnosed in women than men, but some data support equal gender prevalence (men may be in treatment for other comorbid diagnoses, and the DID is overlooked). And not all children who are abused or trau
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