Download Dissociative identity Disorder

Definition
 Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental illness that
involves the sufferer experiencing at least two clear
identities or personality states, also called alters, each of
which has fairly consistent way of viewing and relating to
the world.
Associated Features

Diagnostic criteria for 300.14 Dissociative Identity Disorder (cautionary statement) A.
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).

B. At least two of these identities or personality states recurrently take control of the
person's behavior.

C. Inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be explained
by ordinary forgetfulness.

D. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g.,
blackouts or chaotic behavior during Alcohol Intoxication) or a general medical condition
(e.g., complex partial seizures).

Note: In children, the symptoms are not attributable to imaginary playmates or other
fantasy play.Reprinted with permission from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision.

Copyright 2000 American Psychiatric Association
Associated Features
 Most of them have experienced mild dissociation, which is
like daydreaming or getting lost in the moment while
working on a project. It’s a mental process, which
produces a lack of connection in a persons thoughts,
memories, feelings, actions or sense of identity.
 Other types of Dissociative disorder defined in the DMSIV-TR, the man psychiatry manual used to classify mental
illness. Include dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue,
and depersonalization disorder.
Associated Features
 Along with the dissociative and mutilple or split
personalities, people with dissociative disorders may
experience any of the following symptoms:
 Depression, Mood swings, Suicidal tendencies, Sleep
disorder, Anxiety/panic attacks, Alcohol and drug abuse,
Complusions and rituals, Eating disorder and other
symptoms.
Etiology
 While there is no proven specific cause of (DID). The
prevailing psychological theory about how the condition
develops is as a reaction to childhood trauma. Specifically,
it is thought that one way that some individual respond to
being several traumatized as a young child is to wall off, in
other words to dissociate, those memories.
 When the reaction becomes extreme, (DID) may be the
result. As with other mental disorders, having family
member with (DID) may indicate a potential vulnerability
to develop the disorder but does not translate into the
condition being literally hereditary.
Prevalence
 While the causes of Dissociative identity disorder are still
vague, research indicates that a combination of
environmental and biological factors work together to
cause it. As many as 98% to 99% of individuals who
develop dissociative disorders have recognized personal
histories of recurring, over powering and often lifethreatening disturbances at a sensitive developmental
stage of childhood (usually before age 9).
 Dissociation may also happen when there has been
insistent neglect or emotional abuse, even when there has
been no over physical or sexual abuse. Families where the
parents are fighting can affect the child and they may
become dissociative.
Prevalence
 Statistics show the rate of the disorder being 01% to 1% of the
general population, 7% may have undiagnosed dissociative
disorder.
 A person with the disorder have spent 7 years in the mental
health system prior to accurate diagnosis.
 Dissociative identity disorder is a very rare condition. It is so rare
that it is difficult to study; little research has been conducted on
people with DID. One study found that about 1% of women in
the community have DID, but more studies are needed to
confirm this finding. There has been a recent surge in the
diagnosis of DID; however, it is not clear whether this is due to a
greater awareness of the disorder by mental health
professionals or to overdiagnosis
Treatment
 Psychotherapy is generally considered
to be the main component of treatment
for dissociative identity disorder.
Therapists usually try to help clients
Improve their relationships with others &
To experience being in touch with or openly expressing in the
past.
Treatment
 Hypnosis is sometimes used to help increase the
information that the person with (DID) has about their
symptoms/identity states, thereby increasing the control
they have over those states when they change from one
personality state to another.
 Medications are often used to address the many other
mental-health conditions that individuals with (DID) tend
to have, Like depression. . Ect
Prognosis
 The improvement observed in these patients cannot
unequivocally be attributed to treatment. First, the study lacked
a standard treatment protocol, or at least clearly identifiable
treatment components, making it difficult to accept strong
claims about treatment efficacy. Second, because there was no
control condition, it is impossible to know how much of the
improvement may have been due to nontreatment factors. For
example, some spontaneous recovery may have occurred.
Regression toward the mean is also a problem; since patients
often enter therapy when they are particularly distressed, they
are, on average, likely to show less distress in the future,
independent of treatment (2). This problem is amplified by the
fact that the baseline assessment occurred during inpatient
treatment. Since hospital admissions for dissociative identity
disorder tend to be for emergencies (3), many subjects were
probably experiencing an exacerbation of symptoms at baselin
References
 Halgin, R.P., Whitbourne, S.K.(2005). Abnormal
psychology clinical perspectives on psychological
disorders
 www.webmd.com
 www.medicinenet.com
 www.allpsych.com/journal/did.html
 www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/did/htm
 Myers, D.G.(2011). Myers psychology for ap. New York,
NY: worth publishers
Discussion Question
 1. If a perosn with dissociative identity disorder commits a
crime, should they be heald responsible?
Quiz Questions
1. Another word for Dissociative disorder is ___________?
2. How can a person get dissociative identity disorder?
A. From a person through the air.
B. Major issues dealing w/ family, and life problems.
C. Heritage college ready academy high school.
D. Going to the mall.
Quiz Question
 A person with Dissociative Identity Disorder should?
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