Dissociative identity disorder: a literature review

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the literature into dissociative identity disorder. This disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder, is increasingly diagnosed, in part because of more focused diagnostic tools, but also because people are accessing services to assist with the longterm problems of early child abuse and neglect. Dissociative identity disorder is examined in the literature according to a variety of discourses, each of which suggest different ways of conceptualizing problems and therapeutic approaches. These discourses reviewed include: psychiatry, psychology, corporeality, feminism, social constructivism, anthropology, and postmodernism. The paper concludes with an examination of the nursing literature and suggests opportunities for nursing research into this complex mental health problem.

Becoming one person: living with dissociative identity disorder

“…The concept of dissociation found credence in Freud's theories of hysteria and repression. As such, dissociation in women was seen as an ego defence mechanism against unacceptable sexual fantasy that created internal conflict from the unconscious mind (McAllister 2000). The relationship between sexual trauma, and complex family patterns of secrecy and double bind was developed by Ferenczi (1933).…”

“…The relationship between sexual trauma, and complex family patterns of secrecy and double bind was developed by Ferenczi (1933). Since then, much discourse has been offered to interpret and explain this phenomenon within the realms of psychiatry, psychology, feminism, social contructivism and anthropology (McAllister 2000). Piper & Merskey (2004), however, are sceptical about the growth of DID and question why so few cases have been recorded prior to the 1980s.…”

“…The disorder has grown in mythical status in the minds of some, and in others its existence has been hotly contested (Allen & Lacono 2001). Controversy continues to surround the diagnosis due to its association with false memory syndrome and links with child abuse and trauma (Acocella 1999, McAllister 2000). There have also been alleged numbers of copy‐cat experiences, especially in the United States, while some have contested that therapists have projected the condition upon their patients (Piper & Merskey 2004).…”

“…In the Western world, however, the disorder has warranted serious attention in recent years and is now included in the DSM IV (APA 2000). While the original diagnosis of multiple personality disorder was almost unrecognized outside of the United States, the diagnosis of DID is now more likely to be applied in other Western countries (McAllister 2000).…”

Evaluating the Mystery of ‘Brushy Bill’ Roberts (aka., Billy the Kid) as a Case of Extreme Celebrity Worship

“…Self and identity anomalies can be a dramatic topic that captures the public's interest and imagination. For instance, supposedly true stories like Sybil (Schreiber, 1973) and The Three Faces of Eve (Thigpen & Cleckley, 1957/1992 famously publicized the concept of dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder or 'split personality,' i.e., a mental condition characterized by the maintenance of at least two distinct and relatively enduring personality states (Brand et al, 2016;Dorahy et al, 2014;McAllister, 2000). Other times news reports and television documentaries have highlighted 'identity' mysteries, including the Shakespeare authorship question On the other hand, there are techniques in forensic linguistics that purportedly appraise the internal veracity of claimants' accounts (e.g., Chaski, 2013;Kang & Lee, 2014;Kohnken, 2004).…”