There are different types of dissociative disorder. There is more information on each of these below. Show It‘s important to remember that you could have the symptoms of dissociation without a dissociative disorder. There is also a lot of disagreement among professionals over dissociative disorders. What is dissociative amnesia?If you have dissociative amnesia you might not remember things that have happened to you. This may relate to a stressful or traumatic event, but doesn’t have to. In severe cases you might struggle to remember:
This isn’t the same as simply forgetting something. It is a memory ‘lapse’. This means you can’t access the memory at that time, but they are also not permanently lost. With dissociative amnesia you might still engage with other people, such as holding conversations. You might also still remember other things and live a normal life. But you might also have flashbacks, unpleasant thoughts or nightmares about the things you struggle to remember. You may have dissociative amnesia with dissociative fugue. This is where someone with dissociative amnesia travels or wanders somewhere else, related to the things they can’t remember. You may or may not have travelled on purpose. What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)?Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is sometimes called ‘Multiple Personality Disorder. But we have called it DID on this page. If you have DID you might seem to have 2 or more different identities, called ‘alternate identities. These identities might take control at different times. You might find that your behaviour changes depending on which identity has control. You might also have some difficulty remembering things that have happened as you switch between identities. Some people with DID are aware of their different identities, while others are not. There is a lot of disagreement between researchers over the notion of DID. We think of someone with DID as having different identities. But some researchers think that that these are actually different parts of one identity which aren’t working together properly. They suggest that DID is caused by experiencing severe trauma over a long time in childhood. By experiencing trauma in childhood, you take on different identities and behaviours to protect yourself. As you grow up these behaviours become more fully formed until it looks like you have different identities. When in fact the different parts of your identity don’t work together properly. What is other specified dissociative disorder?With this diagnosis you might regularly have the symptoms of dissociation but not fit into any of the types. A psychiatrist uses this diagnosis when they think the reason you dissociate is important. The reasons they give include the following.
What is unspecified dissociative disorder?This diagnosis is used where you dissociate but do not fit into a specific dissociative disorder. Psychiatrists also use this diagnosis when they choose not to specify the reasons why you do not fit into a specific disorder. Or if they don’t have enough information for a specific diagnosis. For example, after a first assessment in accident and emergency. What are dissociative seizures?Dissociative seizures are hard to get diagnosed. They are regularly wrongly diagnosed as epilepsy. Dissociative disorders can also be known as non-epileptic attack disorder (NEAD). It can be hard to tell the difference between a dissociative and epileptic seizure. An EEG can read epileptic seizures but can’t read dissociative seizures. An EEG is a test that detects electrical activity in your brain using small, metal discs attached to your scalp. Dissociative seizures happen for psychological reasons not physical reasons. What is depersonalisation/ derealisation disorder (DPDR)?The feelings of depersonalisation and derealisation can be a symptom of other conditions. It has also been found among people with frontal lobe epilepsy and migraines. But it can also be a disorder by itself. This means it is a ‘primary disorder’. There is some disagreement among professionals whether DPDR should be listed with the other dissociative disorders at all. DPDR has some differences to other dissociative disorders. In DPDR you might not question your identity or have different identities at all. You may still be able to tell the difference between things around you. And there may be no symptoms of amnesia. Instead, with DPDR you might feel emotionally numb and questions what it feels like to live. We have explained this in more detail below. You might have these feelings constantly rather than in episodes. It doesn’t have to have been caused by a traumatic or stressful event. Many people think that this disorder might be more common than previously thought. This might be because of:
With DPDR you might have symptoms of depersonalisation or derealisation or both. Depersonalisation The experience of depersonalisation can be very difficult to put into words. You might say things like ‘I feel like I don’t exist anymore’ or ‘It’s as if I’m watching my life from behind glass’. Derealisation beginning of content
Dissociative identity disorder is a psychological condition where disturbance to a person’s sense of identity causes them to feel or be observed by others to have 2 or more separate personalities. It was previously known as ‘multiple personality disorder’. Dissociative identity disorder is a type of dissociative disorder — where there is a disconnect between your thoughts, memories and feelings and sense of who you are. Dissociative identity disorder is usually long-term and is a response to extreme trauma. Dissociative identity disorder may be incorrectly mixed up with schizophrenia. While they are both mental health disorders, schizophrenia does not feature multiple or ‘split’ personalities, but has other symptoms like delusions and hallucinations. What are the symptoms of dissociative identity disorder?A person with dissociative identity disorder can go through dramatic changes in behaviour and speech patterns from one occasion to the next. The person switches from identity to identity, or feels the presence of 2 or more people living inside their head. Each identity may have its own name and characteristics such as voice, expressions and mannerisms. The main characteristics of dissociative identity disorder are:
CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. What other disorders may people with dissociative identity disorder have?People with dissociative identity disorder may also have other mental illnesses such as: They may also self-harm, feel suicidal or have a substance abuse disorder. What causes dissociative identity disorder?The main cause of dissociative identity disorder is severe and repeated trauma in childhood. This may include chronic severe physical or sexual abuse or wartime situations. The trauma triggers a person to disconnect and dissociate from their life, perhaps as a protective mechanism to help them cope. How is dissociative identity disorder diagnosed?If you or someone you care for has symptoms that could suggest dissociative identity disorder, it is best to see a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist with experience of this condition. They will want to talk to you, or the person with the symptoms, to understand what is going on. Your GP should be able to refer you to a suitable mental health professional. There is no single test or symptom that makes the diagnosis clear and simple. Dissociative identity disorder has some symptoms in common with some other mental health disorders, including borderline personality disorder, histrionic personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services. ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use the Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist. How is dissociative identity disorder treated?The main form of treatment for dissociative identity disorder is long-term psychotherapy. This usually involves frequent and regular sessions with a therapist for a number of years. This approach takes the person through several stages of treatment. The aim is to improve symptoms and functioning, with reductions in dissociation, distress, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. Many people with dissociative identity disorder will also have other mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. There is no medicine specifically for dissociative identity disorder, though these other mental health disorders are often treated with medicine. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Last reviewed: February 2022 These trusted information partners have more on this topic.
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