Today, it is estimated that 1% of the population is affected by dissociative identity disorder. DID is a psychological disorder in which a person's personality is split into two or more specific personality states. People with DID fail to organize multiple aspects of identity, memory, and consciousness into a single compound self. DID is hard to diagnose because the symptoms are easily mistaken for other mental health disorders. The diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder requires both medical and psychiatric evaluations. DID is generally caused by some kind of trauma during childhood. Currently there isn't a cure for dissociative identity disorder, but there are medications and therapies that can help ease the symptoms.
Definition/ …show more content…
In 1791 the first case was reported, they called it “exchanged personality.” It was written about a 20 year old German woman who began to speak perfect French, she acted like a French aristocrat and spoke German with a French accent. She also denied the existence of the “German Women” when she was the “French Women.” In 1968, dissociative identity disorder was called hysterical neurosis. In 1973 the book Sybil was published. It gained a lot of popularity and this dramatically rose the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder. In 1980, the term “dissociative” was first introduced as a class of disorders. (Tracy, N. (n.d.). The Amazing History of Dissociative Identity Disorder, …show more content…
Usually, a person possesses 7 to 13 alternate personalities. On average, a person with DID spends 7 years in the mental health system before being diagnosed. The symptoms of DID are similar to other mental health disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety, making it difficult to diagnose. In fact, some of these disorders can co-occur with DID. The official symptoms of dissociative identity disorder have been most recently defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition.
The symptoms include: Two or more distinct personalities exist in one individual; one personality is always present.
Dissociative amnesia including gaps in the recall of important personal information and everyday events.
Severe distress and impairment in functioning because of the disorder. The disturbance is not part of normal cultural or religious practices.
The disturbance can't be explained but substance use or another medical condition.
(Tracy, N. (n.d.). Dissociative Identity Disorder Signs and Symptoms, 2017.)
Since DID is a rare disease, it can be very difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder can be easily mistaken for other mental illnesses. Therefore, these five official signs may help pinpoint the the correct
Definition/ …show more content…
In 1791 the first case was reported, they called it “exchanged personality.” It was written about a 20 year old German woman who began to speak perfect French, she acted like a French aristocrat and spoke German with a French accent. She also denied the existence of the “German Women” when she was the “French Women.” In 1968, dissociative identity disorder was called hysterical neurosis. In 1973 the book Sybil was published. It gained a lot of popularity and this dramatically rose the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder. In 1980, the term “dissociative” was first introduced as a class of disorders. (Tracy, N. (n.d.). The Amazing History of Dissociative Identity Disorder, …show more content…
Usually, a person possesses 7 to 13 alternate personalities. On average, a person with DID spends 7 years in the mental health system before being diagnosed. The symptoms of DID are similar to other mental health disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and anxiety, making it difficult to diagnose. In fact, some of these disorders can co-occur with DID. The official symptoms of dissociative identity disorder have been most recently defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition.
The symptoms include: Two or more distinct personalities exist in one individual; one personality is always present.
Dissociative amnesia including gaps in the recall of important personal information and everyday events.
Severe distress and impairment in functioning because of the disorder. The disturbance is not part of normal cultural or religious practices.
The disturbance can't be explained but substance use or another medical condition.
(Tracy, N. (n.d.). Dissociative Identity Disorder Signs and Symptoms, 2017.)
Since DID is a rare disease, it can be very difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder can be easily mistaken for other mental illnesses. Therefore, these five official signs may help pinpoint the the correct