King’s College London (2016) published a study that argued that Multiple Personality Disorder or more popularly known as Disassociate Personality Disorder is rooted from traumatic experiences. These experiences include child abuse and neglect. This notion is in contrast with the earlier belief that the disorder is linked to suggestibility or proneness to fantasy (King’s College London, 2016). The report n the controversial disorder came recently as experts attempt to give explanation to complex mental disorder (Harper, 2011). Currently, there are two existing motions about what is the cause of the disorder- non-trauma related view and the recent trauma-linked position. The stand of the people who believe that the disorder is non-trauma related is a by-product of susceptibility to fantasy, enactment, simulation or suggestibility (Foote & Park 2008).
People who are diagnosed with Disassociate Personality are often victims of misdiagnosis (Brand, 2009). Some are diagnosed with either schizophrenia or bipolar personality disorders. The defining characteristic of multiple personality disorder is the presence of two or more distinct ‘personality state’ wherein each of these personalities have their own perception of the environment including themselves (Paris, 2012).
The more religious approach to understanding the disorder is by referring to it as “broken soul.” People postulate that the disorder is a defence mechanism done by patients in order to escape their troublesome reality (Brand, 2009). One of the most controversial psychological cases pertaining to multiple personality disorder is the case of Sybil. She was a victim of abuse as a young girl and to escape her painful experience she developed several personalities. In order to address her problem she consulted with a psychiatrist for years. The sessions were not easy but with her renewed morale, Sybil managed to unify all the personalities in order to be cured.
References:
Brand, B. (2009). "Personality differences on the Rorschach of dissociative identity disorder, borderline personality disorder, and psychotic inpatients". Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy Foote B, Park J (2008). "Dissociative identity disorder and schizophrenia: Differential diagnosis and theoretical issues". Current psychiatry reports.
Harper, S. (2011). "An examination of structural dissociation of the personality and the implications for cognitive behavioral therapy". The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist.
King’s London College (2016). Multiple personality disorder may be rooted in traumatic experiences. King’s London College
Paris J (2012). "The rise and fall of dissociative identity disorder". Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease
