The Road to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Megan Koma McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts: Psychology Faculty Advisor: Dr. Walsh Less than 2% of the world’s population suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or as commonly known, Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). People suffering from this disorder have and display at least two distinct and enduring personalities. Some patients do suffer from more than two personalities, but it is an extremely rare case. Research into this disorder has found that two main factors lead to its diagnosis: trauma and disorganized attachment. The purpose of this project is to understand how the personalities are shaped by these two main factors. I will also analyze what makes one person more susceptible than the next to developing this disorder, and if it can ultimately be prevented. The question of whether there are other major factors that could contribute to a diagnosis of this disorder will also be discussed. Trauma and Disorganized Attachment are the two main factors that lead an individual to develop DID. Trauma typically involves some form of abuse, whether it be emotional, verbal, physical or sexual. It is also not uncommon for this abuse to be carried out by attachment figures, or someone of importance in the child’s life. Disorganized attachment, sometimes referred to as attachment disorder, refers to children who have “unorganized” patterns of interaction with their caregiver. Many of these children may also exhibit signs of fear towards their caregiver because they have suffered from maltreatment inflicted by the caregiver. Given that both trauma and disorganized attachment occur as a result of abuse and maltreatment, most likely by a caregiver or someone close to the child, it should come as no surprise that many people in this situation develop another identity to help cope with this trauma. A group of researchers working for The Italian Group for the Study of Dissociation conducted an experiment in which they sought to understand if disorganized attachment and trauma to either the infant or mother, led to a higher risk for dissociation disorders later in the child’s life. Trauma included occurrences such as: abuse to the child, witnessing violence, neglect, bereavement, martial separation, and serious health or financial problems. Researchers sampled 52 cases (patients who had already been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder (DD) or borderline personality disorder(BPD)) and 146 controls (patients who had been diagnosed with something other than DD or BPD such as an anxiety disorder). This sample consisted of 49 males and 149 females, 116 were in-patients and 82 of whom were out-patients. Each patient, and their mothers, were interviewed and given several questionnaires focusing on early childhood trauma and disorganized attachment instances. The results of this study are displayed below. It has been discovered that people often develop Dissociative Identity Disorder to cope with some form of abuse or trauma. Patients personalities are usually divided into their normal everyday self, and their hidden self that copes with trauma. The characteristics of these second personalities range from person to person but are often more timid, quiet, and accepting. Some patients are not consciously aware of their second personality and the information it holds out of their conscious reach. Patients are sometimes unable to recall or explain their abuse because their second personality keeps it from their consciousness as means of protection. It was discovered that children are more likely to develop DID as a means of dealing with trauma that they may not be able to understand or handle. There is no one factor that makes one person suffering from trauma and/or disorganized attachment more susceptible to developing DID than the next. The only way that the development of DID to be stopped is to stop all abuse and trauma against children, which unfortunately, is near impossible. It is also important to note that those individuals who develop and suffer from DID are at a higher risk to develop complex forms of PTSD, dissociative disorders, and borderline personality disorder. Pasquini, P., Liotti, G., Mazzotti, E., Fassone, G., & Picardi, A. (2002). Risk factors in the early family life of patients suffering from dissociative disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 105(2), 110–116. doi: 10.1034/j.1600- 0447.2002.01062.x Liotti, G. (2004). Trauma, dissociation, and disorganized attachment: Three strands of a single braid. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research,Practice, Training, 41(4), 472–486. doi: 10.1037/0033- 3204.41.4.472 Introduction Trauma and Disorganized Attachment Conclusion References Relevant Research Suffered from severe stressful life events 63.5% Did not suffer from severe stressful life events 36.5% Mothers’ Severe Stressful Life Events: Cases Suffered from severe stressful life events 60.3% Did not suffer from severe stressful life events 39.7% Mothers’ Severe Stressful Life Events: Controls Suffered from early traumatic experiences 88.5% Did not suffer from early traumatic experiences 11.5 % Patients’ Early Traumatic Experiences : Cases Suffered from early traumatic experiences 52.1% Did not suffer from early traumatic experiences 47.9% Patients’ Early Traumatic Experiences: Controls
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The Road to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)Megan Koma
McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts: PsychologyFaculty Advisor: Dr. Walsh
Less than 2% of the world’s population suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or as commonly known, Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). People suffering from this disorder have and display at least two distinct and enduring personalities. Some patients do suffer from more than two personalities, but it is an extremely rare case. Research into this disorder has found that two main factors lead to its diagnosis: trauma and disorganized attachment. The purpose of this project is to understand how the personalities are shaped by these two main factors. I will also analyze what makes one person more susceptible than the next to developing this disorder, and if it can ultimately be prevented. The question of whether there are other major factors that could contribute to a diagnosis of this disorder will also be discussed.
Trauma and Disorganized Attachment are the two main factors that lead an individual to develop DID. Trauma typically involves some form of abuse, whether it be emotional, verbal, physical or sexual. It is also not uncommon for this abuse to be carried out by attachment figures, or someone of importance in the child’s life. Disorganized attachment, sometimes referred to as attachment disorder, refers to children who have “unorganized” patterns of interaction with their caregiver. Many of these children may also exhibit signs of fear towards their caregiver because they have suffered from maltreatment inflicted by the caregiver. Given that both trauma and disorganized attachment occur as a result of abuse and maltreatment, most likely by a caregiver or someone close to the child, it should come as no surprise that many people in this situation develop another identity to help cope with this trauma.
A group of researchers working for The Italian Group for the Study of Dissociation conducted an experiment in which they sought to understand if disorganized attachment and trauma to either the infant or mother, led to a higher risk for dissociation disorders later in the child’s life. Trauma included occurrences such as: abuse to the child, witnessing violence, neglect, bereavement, martial separation, and serious health or financial problems. Researchers sampled 52 cases (patients who had already been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder (DD) or borderline personality disorder(BPD)) and 146 controls (patients who had been diagnosed with something other than DD or BPD such as an anxiety disorder). This sample consisted of 49 males and 149 females, 116 were in-patients and 82 of whom were out-patients. Each patient, and their mothers, were interviewed and given several questionnaires focusing on early childhood trauma and disorganized attachment instances. The results of this study are displayed below.
It has been discovered that people often develop Dissociative Identity Disorder to cope with some form of abuse or trauma. Patients personalities are usually divided into their normal everyday self, and their hidden self that copes with trauma. The characteristics of these second personalities range from person to person but are often more timid, quiet, and accepting. Some patients are not consciously aware of their second personality and the information it holds out of their conscious reach. Patients are sometimes unable to recall or explain their abuse because their second personality keeps it from their consciousness as means of protection. It was discovered that children are more likely to develop DID as a means of dealing with trauma that they may not be able to understand or handle. There is no one factor that makes one person suffering from trauma and/or disorganized attachment more susceptible to developing DID than the next. The only way that the development of DID to be stopped is to stop all abuse and trauma against children, which unfortunately, is near impossible. It is also important to note that those individuals who develop and suffer from DID are at a higher risk to develop complex forms of PTSD, dissociative disorders, and borderline personality disorder.
Pasquini, P., Liotti, G., Mazzotti, E., Fassone, G., & Picardi, A. (2002). Risk factors in the early family life of patients suffering from dissociative disorders. Acta PsychiatricaScandinavica, 105(2), 110–116. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.01062.x
Liotti, G. (2004). Trauma, dissociation, and disorganized attachment: Three strands of a single braid. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research,Practice, Training, 41(4), 472–486. doi: 10.1037/0033-3204.41.4.472
Introduction
Trauma and Disorganized Attachment
Conclusion
References
Relevant Research
Suffered from severe stressful life
events 63.5%
Did not suffer from severe stressful life
events 36.5%
Mothers’ Severe Stressful Life Events:
Cases
Suffered from severe stressful life
events 60.3%
Did not suffer from
severe stressful life
events 39.7%
Mothers’ Severe Stressful Life Events:
Controls
Suffered from early traumatic
experiences 88.5%
Did not suffer from
early traumatic
experiences 11.5 %
Patients’ Early Traumatic Experiences : Cases
Suffered from early
traumatic experiences
52.1%
Did not suffer from
early traumatic
experiences 47.9%
Patients’ Early Traumatic Experiences: Controls
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