Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Case Study

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Review of Dissociative Identity Disorder
The grouping of Dissociative Disorders within the DSM contains multiple diagnoses that center upon lapses in memory or feelings of bodily attachment and reality as a result of trauma. Specifically, Dissociative Identity Disorder, previously named Multiple Personality Disorder until 1994 (DSM-IV, American Psychiatric Association, 2000), is a stress and trauma related disorder which results in the presentation of multiple distinct and unrelated personality states within one individual. This fragmented personality is usually accompanied the experience of inexplicable memory gaps as a result of split consciousness. (Comer, 2015). Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) has been a controversial diagnosis since …show more content…

Future sessions yielded more answers to the reasons behind Calliope’s forgetfulness as the psychologist met 5 other subpersonalities. Eventually, Kaly, one of the subpersonalities that identified as a 9 year old girl revealed that Calliope had been raised by her aunt and uncle after witnessing the death of both her parents in a boating accident. Her uncle, who went by the name Mitchell, had been both physically and verbally abusive to Calliope and her aunt (Burke et. al., 2016; Comer, 2015; Spitzer, …show more content…

Because of the role of social factors in the presentation of symptoms it is possible that such cases were seen as demonic because sufferers felt that this sort of identity was the only possible explanation that would be acceptable. Cases of demonic possession including altered personality states date back to the 17th century (Ross, 1989). The beginning of the proper psychological study of the disorder began with Freud, Breuer, Janet and was initially part of a grouping known as “hysteria” or psychosis. Cases of DID after often accompanied by other somatic symptoms which are not explained by medical conditions. Freud especially was interested in these inexplicable phantom symptoms. The landmark case study of Anna was the first in-depth analysis of this particular type of “hysteria” and Anna received Freud’s signature “talking cure,” showing the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy (Rosenberg & Kosslyn, 2014; 255). For Freud and his companions these issues surrounding multiple personalities stemmed from the excessive use of repression as a coping mechanism. Psychodynamic perspective first to address the issue and still a popular perspective used for treatment and construct