Dissociative Identity Disorder

Plus signs

Dissociative Identity Disorder was known as multiple personality disorder or split personality until 1994, when the name was officially changed in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. The frequency of Dissociative Identity Disorder is about 1 to 3 percent of the general population, similar to the number of people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder.

What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a severe mental health condition in which a person’s identity is split into two or more personality states. To clarify, people with DID do not necessarily have several distinct personalities, despite what is often depicted in the media. Rather, they have a different way of relating, perceiving, thinking, and remembering depending which personality state they are in. Dissociative Identity Disorder symptoms also include nightmares, flashbacks, hearing voices, and experiencing frequent memory gaps. DID is one of several dissociative disorders characterized by a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory.

Experts agree that DID often stems from extreme trauma in childhood, typically as a result of physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse. Therefore, as a coping mechanism, the child walls off, or dissociates from, memories of the trauma. About 90 percent of DID cases involve a history of abuse. Moreover, accidents, natural disasters, and war can also create the severe trauma that is a risk factor for DID.

Dissociative Identity Disorder treatment is focused on reuniting the fragmented personalities within the psyche through long-term psychotherapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and creative therapy modalities have been found to be useful for those with DID. Fortunately, research shows that treatment can help people with DID live functional and fulfilling lives.

Sources: Psych Central, National Alliance on Mental Illness, 

It's Time to Make a Change

We Can Help You on Your Path to Mental Wellness

A group of teenagers discussing during a therapy session as part of a PHP program

PHP for Teens in Fort Worth, TX: Best Treatment Centers & Pricing

Key Takeaways Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) for teens in Fort Worth offer intensive, structured treatment for mental health and substance use without requiring an overnight stay. The three best PHPs for teens in Fort Worth are Clearfork Academy, Cook Children’s

Parent and teen arriving at a Texas drug rehab center to begin treatment

Teen Drug Rehab in Texas: Best Treatment Centers & Cost

Key Takeaways Teen addiction treatment is fundamentally different from adult programs, and Texas has a wide range of evaluated teen rehab centers, offering options ranging from detox and residential care to outpatient programs.  The three best teen drug rehabs in

A parent walking with their child into a residential treatment center

How to Get Your Child into Residential Treatment: Step-by-Step Guide

Key Takeaways  The path to residential treatment follows a clear sequence of steps. Start with a formal clinical assessment from a qualified mental health professional, get a referral to an appropriate residential program, and verify your insurance coverage and out-of-pocket