Multiple personality disorder 

The human mind is one of the most obscure things in our entire universe. Even a small disturbance in your brain causes a multitude of changes in your mind.  

One such psychological disturbance is Multiple personality disorder. It is otherwise known as Dissociative identity disorder (DID).  

It is a serious psychological condition where a person inflicted upon this disorder has more than one personality.  

What is Multiple personality disorder? 

Multiple personality disorder is a complex mental condition. The person who possesses this disorder has several personalities. Sometimes, these alternate personalities (commonly called ‘alters’) can vary from 2 or 3, even up to 100 in some cases.  

As the famous saying quotes, “Perception of reality emerges from the brain and dissolves in the brain” the person with this disorder has multiple realities.  

In each reality, people act as different individuals. They have different names, identities, ages and even sex. Their behavioural patterns also change with each personality.  

Since one person’s personality is fragmented into multiple personalities, this disorder is also known as split personality.  

Is multiple personality disorder common? 

Often the questions pop up — Is multiple personality disorder real? Does multiple personality disorder exist?  

Way back in the 1880s, this disorder was discovered. Since then, with a series of studies and research, this disorder and its associated symptoms and diagnoses have been recorded diligently.  

From then on, medical experts could see many cases of split personality have been reported widely. However, the incidence of this disorder is worldwide is low.  

But how commonly is Multiple personality disorder affecting people? According to some studies, the prevalence of DID in India is 0.15/1000 population.  

What are the causes of DID? 

Studies indicate that the stressful and abusive environment for children is one of the primary causes of this disorder.  

A pleasant environment is essential for the healthy development of children. There are even some provisions in our Indian constitution that enforce early childhood care and a healthy environment for children’s growth.  

Sometimes, traumatic memories of combat and even natural disasters can trigger this personality disorder.  

Often, the signs of this disorder can be seen among people in their early childhood stage, usually before 6 years of age.  

Persons who have undergone any childhood abuse, including physical, sexual or verbal, may develop this disorder. However, it doesn’t mean that whoever has experienced such situations would have developed this split personality.  

What are the symptoms of this disorder? 

People with this disorder have two types of personalities. One is the core personality, which is their original identity.  

Another is the altered personality. The number of these altered personalities differs for different people. Some people even have up to 100 altered personalities.  

Some other signs of multiple personality disorder include: 

• Depression 
• Anxiety 
• Mental delusions 
• Disorientation 
• Memory loss 
• Amnesia 

Often, people with split personalities experience a lack of continuity in their memory and even have blackouts. This happens when their minds shift to other personalities, behaving like a completely new person.  

Are there any diagnoses and treatments available? 

There is no specified single split personality test available. Doctors usually run a series of tests to identify the exact cause of the disorder.  

While there is no complete cure for multiple personality disorder, there is no specified rule-based treatment for this. However, with a combination of one or more treatments, the severity of this disorder can be minimised.  

Some of the common treatments available for Dissociative identity disorder are: 

• Psychotherapy 

This therapy is performed through a series of talks. In this, the therapist converses with patients by inquiring about their living conditions, their surroundings, relatives and friends, and specific personal events that happened in the past.  

The therapist will try to fuse several personalities through this, thus reducing their mental complications.  

• Hypnotherapy 

Hypnotherapy is a treatment in the form of meditation. Usually, therapists guide their patients to meditate and communicate with their subconscious minds. It may help people to recover from the seriousness of this disorder.  

The above treatments may also be performed in combination.  

• Pharmacotherapy

In addition to other treatment options, pharmacotherapy is also widely considered for treating people with multiple personality disorder. Pharmacotherapy is a treatment that uses certain drugs and medications to treat illnesses, especially mental illnesses and disorders.

There are no recommended medications that evidently cure this disorder. However, the doctors may prescribe some drugs and medicines to suppress the symptoms of other associated mental health issues.

Your doctors may prescribe the following medications for this purpose:

• Anti-depressants
• Anti-psychotic drugs
• Anxiolytic medications
• Anti-anxiety medications

Can Multiple personality disorders be prevented? 

There is no proven way to prevent Dissociative identity disorder. However, one can identify the symptoms early, especially the parents.  

Because mostly, if someone has this disorder, they show its symptoms at a young age. Identifying and treating this disorder at an early stage provides better chances of controlling it.  

How to act towards someone with Multiple personality disorder? 

Witnessing this disorder with your loved ones is depressing and overwhelming. They might show a sudden shift in personalities and sometimes behave like a total stranger to you.  

Often you may witness that they undergo self-infliction. They may have suicidal thoughts, and sometimes, they even harm themselves or others.  

These are the times you need to take extra care of your loved ones who are undergoing this mental disorder.  

You can be supportive in the following ways: 

• By not leaving them alone 
• Learning about their symptoms and planning their treatments and therapies 
• Staying calm and being supportive in times of sudden personality fluctuations 
• By monitoring them if they get their hands on alcohols or drugs and making a conducive environment for them 

Multiple personality disorder vs Schizophrenia 

Although numerous differences prevail between the above two disorders, Schizophrenia vs Multiple personality disorder is still an area of confusion.  

For persons with a split personality, their mind creates various altered identities. Mostly, one of their personalities doesn’t know that the other one exists.  

But Schizophrenia is different from this. In this, people will have alternate realities and even hallucinations. People with Schizophrenia often hear voices or see things that are not real.  

However, both disorders are serious psychological conditions. There are stark differences between these two.  

How is it different from Borderline personality disorder? 

Another common misconception is that people think Multiple personality disorder and Borderline personality disorder are the same and even name the latter as Borderline multiple personality disorder.  

However, this is unsubstantiated.  

Borderline personality disorder fundamentally affects the person’s way of thinking about themselves and others. It involves self-image problems, mood swings, inferiority complex, fear of abandonment, etc.  

This is completely different from Multiple personality disorder.  

A note of concern 

Dissociative identity disorder is not a commonly prevalent disorder. However, you cannot be sure that this does not affect you or your loved ones.  

Since childhood abuse and drug addiction are the major contributors to this disorder, taking steps to eliminate them will help prevent this condition.  

While there is no absolute way to treat this, you can try your maximum to prevent this from occurring by making a conducive environment for your children and your loved ones.