ABSTRACT – Dissociative Identity Disorder was previously known as multiple personality disorder. It is a mental illness which includes...
Dissociative identity disorder
Dissociative Identity Disorder was previously known as multiple personality disorder. It is a mental illness which includes disruptions and breakdown between thoughts, memories, surroundings, awareness, perceptions and identity. Dissociative Identity Disorder develops one or more alternate personalities without any awareness of one’s own behavior and thereby affects the functioning in day-to-day life.
CAUSES –
Excessive stress and not able to cope well with emotional or professional stress
Shocking incident during natural disaster
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS –
Lapses in memory and headache
Disconnected or detached feel from own-self
Perception seems to be distorted and unreal
Excessive stress
Depression, anxiety, and mood swings
Suicidal thoughts and behavior
Sleep disorders such as insomnia, night terrors, and sleep walking
Panic attacks and phobias
Alcohol and drug abuse
Schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses
DIAGNOSIS –
Physical examination
Psychiatric examination regarding individual’s thoughts, feelings and behavior
DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder) – It provides criteria for diagnosis to compare with the symptoms.
TREATMENT –
Psychotherapy: Counseling for mental illness
Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications
Cognitive – Behavioral therapy: It focuses on changing dysfunctional thinking patterns, feelings, and behaviors.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Creative therapies like art therapy, music therapy
Meditation and relaxation techniques
Clinical hypnosis
PREVENTION –
The condition can be prevented by minimizing the exposure to traumatic events and reducing stress.
EPIDEMIOLOGY –
This condition can occur at any age but females are more prone to get affected from DID than males.