Julia F-R – Year 13 Student
Editor’s Note: Julia F-R in Year 13 has an interest in Psychology and in this well-researched article looks into Dissociative Personality Disorder. EB
You might have come across the term ‘multiple personality disorder’ and, probably less likely, its more modern version: ‘dissociative personality disorder’ or DID for short. Admittedly, both sound very complicated, especially since this much-talked-about disorder has a layer of mystery and scepticism. This fact alone might have contributed to its strong presence in pop culture.
What is it?
Mayo Clinic defines DID as a group of mental health disorders that involve experiencing a disconnection or lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity; essentially, those affected may find themselves switching between different personalities or identities (‘alters’). An ‘average’ DID sufferer has ten alters, but it may vary between as little as two or as many as one hundred!
Historical background
The disorder was first described in France in the 19th century as “dédoublement”, or “double consciousness”. It was originally believed to be a state of sleepwalking rather than a different version of the same person taking over the conscious mind – the concept that took over by the end of the nineteenth century.
One case that pioneered this conclusion was that of Louis Vivet. As a child, he was ferociously frightened by a viper. His symptoms raised a lot of interest at the time, with him becoming one of the best-known people affected during the Victorian era.
Between 1880 and 1920 Jean-Martin Charcot and his student, Pierre Janet explored the idea of dissociation and its main cause being a nervous shock from trauma. They shared their findings at various international medical conferences with DID gaining nearly celebrity status. However, after the death of Charcot, many of his patients were thought not to have genuine symptoms, with the medical community at the time even questioning the existence of this condition.
What causes DID?
The affected person switches to a different personality to alleviate the stress experienced at that moment, e.g. when a trigger causes the return of traumatising memories. The involuntary escape from reality to cope with the struggle of everyday life is sudden, with many patients not being aware of this switch.
The condition often develops in childhood after exposure to long-term physical or mental abuse. In response to such a frightening environment, a child builds up unhealthy coping techniques such as escaping reality. Other causes could be the looming stress of the threat of natural disasters or an unstable family life.
DID commonly occurs in childhood as personal identity mostly develops throughout the early years of life. A child is more likely to create an opportunity to leave behind their stressful thoughts, switching to another version of themselves so that the ‘other person’ can deal with the situation.
What are the symptoms of DID?
At first, patients may report problems that are not specific to this condition, such as difficulty handling problems in one’s relationship or struggling to cope well with emotional or professional stress. More specifically, they may mention a blurred sense of identity, a sense of being detached from one’s emotions or perceiving unreal and distorted reality.
When personalities are being swapped, the outside world will likely get a sense of different people stepping in.
How could the symptoms of DID be controlled?
The disorder is currently not fully curable; however, the symptoms can be kept at bay, and their impact on daily life can be lessened. Treatment for DID includes a combination of very powerful psychotherapy and, sometimes, medications.
Bibliography:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissociative_identity_disorder#Historical_prevalence
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dissociative-disorders/symptoms-causes/syc-20355215
The GSAL Journal 