"Split personality disorder" is a term that is not used in the psychiatric field. The correct term is "dissociative identity disorder (DID)." DID—as well as other types of dissociative disorders—involves symptoms that interfere with a person’s mental functioning. Show Iuliia Isaieva / Getty Images What Is Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)?Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a condition marked by the presence of two or more distinct personality states within one individual. Each of these personality states may have a unique name and characteristics, including a different voice, gender, and set of mannerisms. 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). Using the Correct Term"Split personality disorder" is not a term used in the psychiatric field. "Dissociative identity disorder (DID)" is the correct term. SymptomsThe main symptom of DID is experiencing the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states, sometimes known as "alters." The shifting of identities happens involuntarily and is described as being undesirable, causing severe distress or impairment to a person with DID. Other symptoms may include:
DiagnosisAs with other mental disorders, a doctor 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:
MisdiagnosisSymptoms of DID might be misinterpreted as delusions or hallucinations and mistaken for a psychotic disorder, such as schizophrenia. CausesAlthough having a history of experiencing a traumatic event is not required as part of the DSM-5 criteria for being diagnosed with DID, trauma is almost always associated with the disorder. In fact, some studies report about 90% of the cases of DID involve some history of trauma. Trauma can include:
Often, DID is a result of severe child abuse. TreatmentAlthough there isn't one specific type of medication to treat DID, medication may be useful in managing co-occurring mood, anxiety, and other symptoms. The main treatment for DID involves the use of various therapeutic approaches. Some of the forms, or modalities, that have been proven effective include:
Risk FactorsBecause 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, dial 988 to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. CopingThere are many nonmedical coping strategies that reportedly help people with DID. These include:
Finding SupportIf you are a family member of a person with DID and you don’t have a support group in place, you can visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) NAMI Family Support Group page. Click on your state name in the drop-down menu to find face-to-face support groups in your local area or nearby. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. By
Sherry Christiansen Thanks for your feedback! What are the signs of someone with a split personality?Symptoms include: Experiencing two or more separate personalities, each with their own self-identity and perceptions. A notable change in a person's sense of self. Frequent gaps in memory and personal history, which are not due to normal forgetfulness, including loss of memories, and forgetting everyday events.
What is an example of a split personality?Examples of splitting behavior may include: Opportunities can either have "no risk" or be a "complete con" People can either be "evil" and "crooked" or "angels" and "perfect" Science, history, or news is either a "complete fact" or a "complete lie"
Are you aware if you have a split personality?Usually those with a multiple personality, or dissociative identity disorder, will recognize that something is abnormal due to symptoms like amnesia but they may not realize it is due to having alters or personalities that are taking over to handle triggers or exposure to trauma.
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