Term Paper on "Dissociative Identity Disorder"

Term Paper 4 pages (1202 words) Sources: 5 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative disorders are uncommon, affecting an estimated 1% to 2% of the population. This kind of disorder affects females more often than males and most often begin whenever the abuse or traumatic event occurred (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2800/2819.asp?index=9786&src=news,2002). Many have tried to give a full and much detailed definition on Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), because there have been an increasing number of reported cases of this 'illness'.

In psychiatry, according to standard American textbooks in clinical psychology, Dissociative Identity Disorder is a psychological condition characterized by the use of dissociation as a primary defense mechanism. A chronic reliance on dissociation as a means of defending against stressors in the environment causes the individual to experience their psyche/identity as disconnected or split into distinct parts (Grohol, 2005).

Aside from the continuous research, there are also lots of arguments concerning the possible causes and the most effective therapy for this illness. There are some who argue that children who are stressed or abused (especially sexually abused) split into several independent personalities or ego states as a defense mechanism. People diagnosed with DID may exhibit erratic alterations of personality and may "lose time." On the other hand, there are some who affirms that people who act as if they have MPD/DID have learned to exhibit the symptoms in return for social reinforcement, either from therapists, from others with DID, from society at large or from any combination thereof. Others are saying that people with the syndrome really do have multiple selves or experience themselves so, they really cannot control their behaviors, and should be treated with the same respect and consideration afforded those with other mental disorders. In addition, some people argue that it is but normal to experience oneself as multiple and that "multiplicity" is not necessarily a disorder, so that it is possible to be multiple without having MPD or DID (Grohol, 2005).

But what really is the truth behind this dissociative disorder? Are there any symptoms? Is it curable... If so, how one gets 'out' of this illness?

It is already an accepted fact that dissociative disorder is a disease that is related to mental illness. Dissociative disorders are mental illnesses that involve disruptions or breakdowns of memory, awareness, identity and/or perception -- mental functions that normally operate smoothly. When one or more of these functions is disrupted, symptoms can result. These symptoms can interfere with a person's general functioning, including social and work activities, and relationships (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2800/2819.asp?index=9786&src=news,2002).

It was noted that dissociative disorders is commonly linked to overwhelming stress, which may be the result of traumatic events -- such as abuse, accidents or disasters -- that the person has experienced or witnessed. Dissociation is a way of coping that disconnects, or separates, traumatic memories from the person's normal awareness, or consciousness, thereby shielding the person from the pain or fear associated with the trauma. The traumatic memories, however, still exist but are deeply buried within the person's mind. The memories may resurface on their own or after being triggered by something in the person's surroundings or they may remain buried in the mind and emerge instead as physical symptoms (http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2800/2819.asp?index=9786&src=news,2002).

The types of dissociative disorders vary in the severity of the illness and the symptoms that are found in the person him/herself. The recognized types of dissociative disorders are:

Dissociative amnesia -- This disorder occurs when a person blocks out certain information which is usually connected with a stressful or traumatic event, leaving him or her unable to remember important personal information. With this disorder, the degree of memory loss goes beyond normal forgetfulness and includes gaps in memory for… READ MORE

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