Dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder, is a mental disorder in which the person behaves as if he were two or more different people, which vary in relation to their thoughts, memories, feelings or actions.
This psychological imbalance causes changes in the perception of oneself, loss of control over one's behavior and memory disorders, which may be accompanied by other signs and symptoms such as feeling lost, sudden changes in attitudes and opinions or feeling that the body does not belongs.
Dissociative identity disorder is one of the types of dissociative disorders, which can manifest in different ways, such as amnesia, movement disorders, changes in sensitivity, tingling or metal confusion, for example, without a physical disease that explains these changes. Learn more about the forms of manifestation of dissociative disorder.
The treatment of this disorder is guided by the psychiatrist, and must be done with psychotherapy and, if necessary, use of medications to relieve anxiety or depressive symptoms and, although there is no cure, it can allow a more harmonious association between personalities and a better balance of behavior.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of multiple personality disorder include:
- Absence of identity, with 2 or more personalities, with characteristics, ways of thinking and acting that are proper; Lack of identification with the body itself or the feeling that it belongs to another person; Constant changes in behavior, attitudes and opinions; Failures of memory about past events; Memory lapses for everyday situations, such as forgetting to use the phone, for example; Feeling that the world is not real; Feeling of being separated from the body; Hearing voices or having other types of hallucinations, such as visuals or sensitive.
Symptoms cause suffering to the affected person, in addition to impairment in social, professional or other important areas of life. In addition, it is possible that the symptoms are associated with other syndromes, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, drug abuse, self-mutilation or suicidal behavior, for example.
What can cause
Multiple identity disorder is caused by a number of different factors, which can affect anyone, however, this syndrome is more likely to develop in people who have suffered extreme stress or who have experienced major trauma during childhood, such as physical abuse, emotional or sexual.
These childhood traumas can cause changes in the person's ability to form an identity, especially when the aggressors are family members or caregivers. However, the risk of developing this disorder decreases if the child feels protected and reassured by the caregivers.
How to confirm
The diagnosis of multiple personality disorder syndrome is made by the psychiatrist, through the evaluation of symptoms, and it is also important to exclude the existence of other psychiatric and neurological diseases, or the use of substances that may cause these symptoms.
How the treatment is done
Dissociative identity disorder does not have a cure, however, symptoms can be controlled and mitigated with the treatment indicated by the psychiatrist, with the aim of transforming multiple identities into just one. The main forms of treatment include:
- Psychotherapy; Treatments with hypnosis; Use of medicines, such as anxiolytics and antidepressants, to relieve anxious and depressive symptoms for example.
The recovery from this disorder varies according to the symptoms and characteristics they present, in addition to the correct treatment.
