Multiple Personality Disorder
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Multiple Personality Disorder
Introduction
Multiple Personality Disorder, currently known as Dissociative Identity Disorder is a condition arising from childhood trauma. Dissociative Identity Disorder is a mental condition, which results in a lack of connection in a person's thoughts, memories, feelings, actions, or sense of identity. The result is that an individual is controlled by more than one personality, such that he or she exhibits behavior as if more than one person was living in one. This paper examines the history, signs and symptoms, causes, diagnostic and treatment of this condition.
History of Multiple Personality Disorder
The first case of Multiple Personality Disorder was in the year 1816 and was described by Samul Mitchel (Rieber 9). Interest however in the condition dropped and was not to rise until in the 1900s with the onset of hypnosis. Multiple Personality Disorder became officially a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980 (Rieber 13). It was recorded as Multiple Personality Disorder but was later to be changed to Dissociative Identity Disorder.
Mary Reynold's case, documented by Samuel Mtchel in the year 1811, is the first ever case of Multiple Personality Disorder to be recorded. He later documented that of Rachel Baker who would preach in her sleep and write poetry and music (Rieber, 20). There is another documentation of Multiple Personality Disorder that has played major role in the development of this condition. Richard Hodgson documented the case of Ansel Bourne.
Causes and symptoms of Multiple Personality Disorder
Multiple Personality Disorder is believed to be caused by childhood trauma. Psychologists believe the condition is a reaction to childhood experiences, especially trauma resulting from abuses such as sexual molestation. As a defense mechanism, people who were exposed to trauma create a wall such that they dissociate themselves from those bad memories. Extreme dissociation is what is believed to result in this condition. Some argue that the condition could also result from having a family member who is suffering from this condition. Those who hold to this view however argue that the condition does not become hereditary.
The condition has several symptoms. These include lapses in memory of significant life events such as anniversaries, finding oneself in a place where one does not have an idea how they got there, frequent accusations of doing things that one does not remember doing, yet they are not under the influence of drugs or are not in any medication. In addition, possession of items one does not remember how they acquired them, getting to encounter people whom one does not know but who know them as someone else, hearing voices in ones head that are not one's own, not recognizing oneself in the mirror, feeling like one is many people among others. These symptoms bring about a state where one unconsciously retreats and these other personalities take over. This is a defense mechanism where the person switches off in reaction to the experiences of the past (Swartz 13). When something triggers the painful memories of the past, the body is unable to hold the pain resulting from the experience. Consequently, one results to a state of unconsciousness where a different personality takes over. This personality comes because of the desire to revenge but since the person in question does not have the ability to defend him or herself, they take a mental stature of someone who is stronger and can fight for them.
Multiple Personality Disorder has comorbidity with other mental disorders making diagnosis difficult. One such condition is borderline disorder. Diagnosis should therefore be precise. Psychologists argue that there has been development of more precise methods of Multiple Personality Disorder diagnosis.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Since this condition has no particular test like a blood test, practitioners in this field conduct a mental health interview in order to assess the condition (Muller 23). During the mental interview, childhood experiences are examined with caution being taken in order not to come up with a misdiagnosis. This is because other conditions can be mistaken for the condition. In addition, others fake it for legal purposes. It is therefore pertinent to get the right information and be extremely professional in diagnosis.
The treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder is complex. One generally preferred treatment is psychotherapy. This is done by attempting to help people with the condition improve relationships with others and experience feelings they have not been comfortable. Hypnosis has also been used in order to help these individuals deal and control other states when they come (Richard 45). There are other forms of treatment used to deal with the condition. Medication is usually used to deal with other conditions that come with Multiple Personality Disorder such as depression.
CONCLUSION
Multiple Personality Disorder is a complex condition. There is need for more research in order to help many people who are at risk of developing this condition. Modern lifestyles characterized by wars and other vices are presenting increased chances of quite a number of people going through traumatic conditions. It should not also be forgotten that some do not believe the condition really exists or are ignorant of it.
Works Cited
Muller J (1998) http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/dissociative-identity-disorder/patient-dissociative-identity-disorder-switches-emergency-room-0. 1998. Print
Rieber, R. The bifurcation of self: the history and theory of dissociation and its disorders 3-90. 2002. Print
Swartz A. http://allpsych.com/journal/did.html. 2001. Print