Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental health condition where you have two or more interchangeable personalities. It’s usually the result of past trauma.
A sharp decline in cases followed, and the disorder was reclassified as "dissociative identity disorder" (DID) in DSM-IV. [7] In the 2020s, an uptick in DID cases followed the spread of viral videos about the disorder on TikTok and YouTube. [8]
If you have DID, you may find yourself doing things you wouldn't normally do, such as speeding, reckless driving, or stealing money from your employer or friend.
Severe and repetitive childhood trauma often causes DID. DID can take a long time be be diagnosed, but proper treatment can help those with DID lead fulfilling lives.
Studies that verify the presence of DID using multiple resources add credibility to the diagnosis. Research on individuals with DID that have little to no media exposure to information on the illness lends further credibility to the reliability of the existence of this mental health condition.
DID is a treatable disorder once it is properly diagnosed. Clinicians who understand DID symptoms can diagnose DID in the clinical interview. There are also paper and pencil tests that can help clinicians diagnose DID and other dissociative disorders. Studies show that DID symptoms improve over time when treated using Phasic Trauma Treatment.
DID is associated with long-term exposure to trauma, often chronic traumatic experiences during early childhood. It is often misunderstood and portrayed incorrectly in popular media.
The DSM-5 criteria for dissociative identity disorder (DID) center around multiple personalities, amnesia as well as three other DID criteria. Learn more.