Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (also previously known as multiple personality disorder), is a mental disorder characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring personality states. Individuals with DID may report they have suddenly become depersonalized observers of their “own” speech and actions, and feel powerless to stop it. They may also report perceptions of voices (e.g. - a child's voice, crying, the voice of a spiritual being).
DID remains a controversial diagnosis despite its inclusion in the DSM-5. It is highly comorbid with other psychiatric disorders including psychotic disorders, personality disorders, substance use disorders, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).[1]
Disruption of identity characterized by 2
or more distinct personality states, which may be described in some cultures as an experience of possession. The disruption in identity involves marked discontinuity in sense of self and sense of agency, accompanied by related alterations in affect, behaviour, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition, and/or sensory-motor functioning. These signs and symptoms may be observed by others or reported by the individual.
Recurrent gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.
The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
The disturbance is not a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice.
The symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g. - blackouts or chaotic behaviour during alcohol intoxication) or another medical condition (e.g. - complex partial seizures).
Name | Rater | Description | Download |
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Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) | Patient | The scale is a 28-item self-report questionnaire measuring dissociation in normal and clinical populations. The mean of all item scores ranges from 0 to 100 and is called the DES score. There are two versions of the DES, there is the original DES, and the second version, the DES-II.[2] See also the DES Taxon Calculator to help differentiate between pathological and normal dissociation. | DES Download |
Dissociative identity disorder is associated with overwhelming experiences, traumatic events, and/or abuse occurring in childhood. The full disorder may first manifest at al most any age (from earliest childhood to late life). Prevalence of childhood abuse and neglect is about 90% in Western countries.
A trauma-informed phase-based psychotherapy approach is recommended by international guidelines, which focuses on:[3][4]