Dissociative identity disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

FeaturingMe, Myself and Irene

Psychology Basis

Dissociative Identity Disorder• Also known as multiple personality disorder

• A person with 2 or more very different personalities in 1 body

• It is a psychological condition that is thought to be caused by many factors, including severe

trauma during early childhood, usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse

Symptoms• the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or personality • there's also an inability to recall key personal information that can

not be explained as forgetfulness.• “The "alters" or different identities have their own age, sex, or race.

Each has his or her own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking. Sometimes the alters are imaginary people; sometimes they are animals”. (WebMD)

• “When under hypnosis, the person's different "alters" or identities may be very responsive to the therapist's requests”. (WebMD)

Other SymptomsDepressionMood swingsSuicidal tendenciesSleep disordersAnxiety, panic attacks & phobias Alcohol & drug abuseCompulsions and rituals

Psychotic-like symptoms (including auditory & visual hallucinations)Eating disordersHeadacheAmnesiatime lossTrancesout of body experiences.

TREATMENT• There is no “cure”• Long-term treatment can be helpful, if the patient stays committed• Effective treatment - psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, and adjunctive

therapies such as art or movement therapy. • There are no established medication treatments • “Treatment of co-occurring disorders, such as depression or

substance use disorders, is fundamental to overall improvement” (WebMD)

MEDIA

ME, MYSELF AND IRENEJim Carrey plays a character with a split personality disorder who runs out of his medication. His first personality is Charlie Baileygates, a police officer with 3 kids. Charlie is mild-mannered, hard-working, and always helpful. When he runs out of his medication, you meet Hank Evans. Hank is Charlie’s hyper-aggressive alter-ego. Hank's got a filthy mouth, drinks like a fish, and breaks skulls.

Throughout the movie, you see Hank and Charlie bounce back and forth between the two characters. You even see them in a fist

fight with each other. The movie in itself has some very crude humor and takes the

Dissociative Identity Disorder to extremes.

Narrator: It's funny how a man reacts when his heart has been broken. Some men break down and cry like a baby.

And some others take an uzi and climb a clock tower.This quote is about how polar opposite Charlie & Hank are.

CONNECTION

Charlie and Hank

Charlie Hank

Charlie Baileygates - He understands what will happen if he doesn’t take his medication

• [Charlie takes his medication at the Massena Police Station]• Irene P. Waters: What are those for?• Charlie Baileygates: Oh! It's just this stupid thing. I have

to take a pill every six hours or I feel... funny. No big deal.• Irene P. Waters: What's it called?• Charlie Baileygates: Advanced delusionary schizophrenia

with involuntary narcissistic rage.

Hank Evans – Only cares about himself, in this scene, he “tricked” Charlie’s girlfriend

into having sex with him.

• Irene P. Waters: I never wanted to sleep with you, Hank! Okay, you tricked me!

• Hank Evans: Yes, I tricked you. It was deceitful, it was disgusting and despicable. But just for once, see it from my side.

• [shrugs]• Hank Evans: I was horny.

Are these connections valid or accurate to the Dissociative

Identity Disorder?

I would say that they are accurate to a point.

While I feel that the movie does show two different characters in one person, it is a very

extreme take on Dissociative Identity Disorder.

The connection with the definition of

Dissociative Identity Disorder is accurate but I feel that it does not follow any of the

treatments that were shown. It clearly states that it can’t be treated with medication; the whole movie is based on Charlie running out

of his medication. It does however hit on a lot of the other symptoms associated with this

disorder.

References

• Class Notes• Images are from Google after typing in “Me Myself and

Irene”• "Amazon IMDB." n.d. www.imdb.com. 29 November 2016.

<http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0183505/quotes>.• "WebMD." n.d. WebMD.com. November 29 2016.

<http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder>.