Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentRisk of SuicideCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Risk of Suicide
Coping
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a condition involving a split personality or multiple personalities. This means you have two or more unique identities. DID—as well as other types ofdissociative disorders—involves symptoms that interfere with a person’s mental functioning, such as detachment or memory loss.
Studies suggest thattraumatic stressis a cause linking dissociative identity disorder and similar diagnoses considered “trauma spectrum disorders.“Therapists usecognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) and other techniques to treat DID, address these trauma histories, and monitor a higher risk ofsuicide.
This article presents the common symptoms of DID, its causes, and who is most at risk. It explains some of the treatment options and coping strategies for those living with a dissociative disorder.
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What Is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?
This mental health condition, which used to be called multiple personality disorder, is one of the dissociative disorders listed in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5).
Split Personality"Split personality disorder” is not a term used in the psychiatric field. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is the correct term for this mental health condition.
Split Personality
“Split personality disorder” is not a term used in the psychiatric field. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is the correct term for this mental health condition.
Other Types of Dissociative Disorders
Dissociative identity disorder is one type of disorder in which people disconnect (disassociate) from their thoughts, memories, and lives. While they share some similarities and symptoms, these conditions each have specific features.
In addition to DID, the three main types of dissociative disorder include depersonalization/derealization disorder, a sense of watching your life from the outside, and dissociativeamnesia(involving memory loss).
Up to 75% of people will experience a depersonalization/derealization episode at some point in their lives, even if it lasts just for a few moments of duress. Only about 2% of people meet the criteria of a chronic diagnosis. Females are more likely to be affected than males.
Do I Have DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder)?
Symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder
The main symptom of DID is experiencing the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states, sometimes known as “alters.” Theshifting of identitieshappens involuntarily and is described as being undesirable, causing severe distress or impairment to a person with DID.
Other symptoms may include:
Symptoms of Different Types of Dissociative Disorders
Causes of Dissociative Identity Disorder
Although having a history of trauma experience is not required as part of the DSM-5 criteria for being diagnosed with DID, trauma is almost always associated with the disorder. Trauma that leads to DID is often the result of severe emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.
Other scenarios can cause trauma that contributes to a dissociative disorder, including:
Trauma and chronic stress can lead to long-term changes in the brains of people who are diagnosed with DID and other trauma spectrum disorders. Genetics, environmental factors, and previous experiences all contribute to how DID progresses and symptoms emerge.
Trauma Spectrum DisordersResearchers report that DID and dissociative disorders share patterns with other trauma-related conditions, including severedepression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), andborderline personality disorder.These include similar changes in the brain (for example, theamygdala) and changes in stress-relatedneurotransmitters.
Trauma Spectrum Disorders
Researchers report that DID and dissociative disorders share patterns with other trauma-related conditions, including severedepression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), andborderline personality disorder.These include similar changes in the brain (for example, theamygdala) and changes in stress-relatedneurotransmitters.
What Is the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis?
Diagnosing Dissociative Identity Disorder
As with other mental disorders, a healthcare provider will make a diagnosis of DID based on the criteria defined in the most recent edition of the DSM.
An in-depth history is taken to assess the person’s symptoms, and the symptoms are compared to the criteria that must be present to justify the specific diagnosis of DID. These criteria include the following:
MisdiagnosisResearch finds about 1% of the general population has DID, but it often remains misdiagnosed.Symptoms of DID might be misinterpreted as delusions or hallucinations and mistaken for a psychotic disorder, such asschizophrenia.
Misdiagnosis
Research finds about 1% of the general population has DID, but it often remains misdiagnosed.Symptoms of DID might be misinterpreted as delusions or hallucinations and mistaken for a psychotic disorder, such asschizophrenia.
What Are the Different Types of Schizophrenia?
Treatment for Dissociative Identity Disorder
The main treatment for DID involves the use of various therapeutic approaches. Some of the treatments that have been proven effective include:
How to Treat Dissociative Identity Disorder
Because of the high rate of suicide in people with DID, part of an effective treatment plan is to watch for signs and symptoms of increased suicidal risk. More than 70% of people diagnosed with DID who participated in outpatient treatment have attempted suicide.
Seek HelpIf you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Seek Help
If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Coping with Dissociative Identity Disorder
Many non-medical coping strategies reportedly help people with DID, including:
Educating yourself about your disorder can help empower you in making treatment decisions, such as whether to try hypnosis, or if you would benefit more from group therapy, individual therapy, or both.
Finding Support
Summary
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a distinct type of dissociative condition in which a person expresses multiple (at least two) distinct identities with different personality traits. It is no longer called split personality disorder.
DID is believed to be rooted in trauma, and researchers identify similarities with other trauma-related mental health disorders like PTSD, including stress-related brain changes. It remains, however, a separate diagnosis with treatments that include talk therapy and medication.
While people living with DID are at a higher risk for suicide and co-occurring conditions like anxiety, symptoms can improve with proper treatment and support. Your healthcare provider can help with referrals to therapists and other resources.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Dissociative Disorders.Bremner JD, Wittbrodt MT.Stress, the brain, and trauma spectrum disorders.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:1-22. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.01.004.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Saxena M, Tote S, Sapkale B.Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management.Cureus. 2023 Nov 19;15(11):e49057. doi: ]10.7759/cureus.49057Brand BL, Sar V, Stavropoulos P, Krüger C, Korzekwa M, Martínez-Taboas A,et al.Separating Fact from Fiction: An Empirical Examination of Six Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016 Jul-Aug;24(4):257-70. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000100.American Psychiatric Association.What are dissociative disorders?Mind.org.Dissociation and dissociative disorders.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Alliance on Mental Illness.Dissociative Disorders.Bremner JD, Wittbrodt MT.Stress, the brain, and trauma spectrum disorders.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:1-22. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.01.004.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Saxena M, Tote S, Sapkale B.Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management.Cureus. 2023 Nov 19;15(11):e49057. doi: ]10.7759/cureus.49057Brand BL, Sar V, Stavropoulos P, Krüger C, Korzekwa M, Martínez-Taboas A,et al.Separating Fact from Fiction: An Empirical Examination of Six Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016 Jul-Aug;24(4):257-70. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000100.American Psychiatric Association.What are dissociative disorders?Mind.org.Dissociation and dissociative disorders.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Dissociative Disorders.Bremner JD, Wittbrodt MT.Stress, the brain, and trauma spectrum disorders.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:1-22. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.01.004.American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596Saxena M, Tote S, Sapkale B.Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management.Cureus. 2023 Nov 19;15(11):e49057. doi: ]10.7759/cureus.49057Brand BL, Sar V, Stavropoulos P, Krüger C, Korzekwa M, Martínez-Taboas A,et al.Separating Fact from Fiction: An Empirical Examination of Six Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016 Jul-Aug;24(4):257-70. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000100.American Psychiatric Association.What are dissociative disorders?Mind.org.Dissociation and dissociative disorders.
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Dissociative Disorders.
Bremner JD, Wittbrodt MT.Stress, the brain, and trauma spectrum disorders.Int Rev Neurobiol. 2020;152:1-22. doi: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.01.004.
American Psychiatric Association.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.Fifth Edition. American Psychiatric Association; 2013. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Saxena M, Tote S, Sapkale B.Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder: Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management.Cureus. 2023 Nov 19;15(11):e49057. doi: ]10.7759/cureus.49057
Brand BL, Sar V, Stavropoulos P, Krüger C, Korzekwa M, Martínez-Taboas A,et al.Separating Fact from Fiction: An Empirical Examination of Six Myths About Dissociative Identity Disorder.Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2016 Jul-Aug;24(4):257-70. doi: 10.1097/HRP.0000000000000100.
American Psychiatric Association.What are dissociative disorders?
Mind.org.Dissociation and dissociative disorders.
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