dissociative identity disorder

• Previously call multiple personality disorder.
• First identified in 1791 by Eberhardt Gmelin
• The case involved a 20year old woman living in
• Stuttgart who began to speak perfect French, behave
• Like a French aristocrat and spoke German with a French accent

WHAT IS DID?

• Did is a mental illness that involves the sufferer experiencing
• At least two clear identities or personality state, also called alters,
• Each of which has a fairly consistent way of viewing &relating to life.
• Some individuals with DID have been found to have personality states
• That have distinctly different ways of reacting.

WHAT CAUSES DID?

• Although there is no proven cause of DID, the prevailing psychological
• Theory about how the condition develops is a reaction to childhood trauma
• Such as chronic physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
• Or, less frequently, a home environment that is otherwise frightening
• Or highly unpredictable.

FACTS ABOUT DID.

• Diagnosed 9x more in women than in men.
• There is no specific test to diagnose. Mental health professionals
• Perform a mental health review, ruling out any other mental disorder.
• Hypnosis is sometimes used to help people with DID learn about their personality
• States in the hope of their gaining better control over those states.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Lapses in memory particularly or significant life events
• Experiencing blackouts at times resulting finding oneself in odd places
• Being frequently accused of lying when they don't believe they are lying.
• Finding items they have clearly written but are not in their own handwriting.
• Hearing voices, not recognizing themselves, or feeling unreal.

COMPLICATIONS OF DID

• People with DID are at risk of suicide.
• Violent behavior
• Other severe chronic mental illnesses.
• Inability to obtain and maintain employment.
• Poor relationships with others.

MYTHS ABOUT DID.

• DID is rare. 1in 3 percent of the general population meet full criteria of DID.
• *DID is as common as bipolar and schizophrenia
• It is easily diagnosed.
• *most people spend an average of 7yrs in the mental health system Before being diagnosed
• Hypnosis is used to access or explore hidden memories.

HERSHEL WALKER

ROSEANNE BARR

REFERENCES

• Psychcentral.com
• Webmd.com
• Psychology today.com
• Medicinenet.com