Dissociative Identity Disorder or otherwise known as multiple personality disorder is a recognized mental disorder whereby the patient manifests at least two separate and distinct personalities. Usually, the patient is not aware and has little to no memory of the shift of personality. There are conflicting theories on how Dissociative Identity Disorder develops. One theory suggests that it may be caused by severe childhood trauma. Another theory suggests that the disorder is shaped by clinicians who inadvertently encourage patients to adopt multiple different roles and thus creates an alternative personality. In a dissociative personality disorder, which used to be called multiple personality disorder, two or more personalities succeed each other in the same person (Townsend, 2013). Whatever the cause of development, it is nonetheless recognized as a legitimate mental health disorder.
Dissociative Identity Disorder has varied acceptance in society. Factors such as local culture, spiritual beliefs, and even location are some which may affect the degree of acceptance and recognition of Dissociative Identity Disorder. In the United States, Canada, and Europe, about 90% of people with this disorder have experienced severe violence (Morton, 2017). It is to be noted, however, that not everyone accepts Dissociative Identity Disorders and thus it is laden with controversy most especially if used in the legal setting particularly as a defense in a serious crime. However, this does not mean that D.I.D. is not recognized as a legitimate mental disorder since it is accepted and recognized as such by the medical community as a whole.
There are serious doubts about the validity of Dissociative Identity Disorder when used in the legal setting since some famous cases of this disorder were faked and used as a defense for serious crimes. Another reason for such doubt is the fact that currently there is no tried and tested rule to determine real Dissociative Identity Disorder from one which is merely simulated or is a product of good acting. A case of Dissociative Identity Disorder poses a difficult challenge in the field of forensic psychology particularly due to the fact that a diagnosis of DID usually includes five to seven comorbid disorders (Morton, 2017). Due to the overlapping symptoms, it is difficult for a forensic psychologist to pin-point whether or not the case is indeed that of a DID or that of a different mental disorder which has symptoms that are the same as DID.
An example of a disorder which may be confused with D.I.D. is Borderline Personality Disorder and Paranoid Schizophrenia. In these cases, there is a sudden change of personality among the patients and little to no memory of the event is retained. In these cases, it was noted that the loss of memory goes beyond the usual or normal forgetfulness of a person. However, DSM-5 has identified D.I.D as opposed to these diagnoses by providing a specific checklist for D.I.D. such as it shall not be caused by substance abuse and distress must be traced back to an extremely stressful or traumatic event during the childhood of the patient. Such a checklist may be used as a way to differentiate D.I.D. from Paranoid Schizophrenia and Borderline Personality Disorder.
References
Morton, J. (2017). Interidentity amnesia in dissociative identity disorder. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 22(4), 315-330.
Townsend, M. C. (2013). Essentials of psychiatric mental health nursing: Concepts of care in evidence-based practice. Chapter 8. "Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders." FA Davis.
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