Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Psychology mpd mpd Dissociative Identity Disorder Sexual molestation, beating, neglect, burning, and verbal abuse. All of these horrible happenings are believed to be linked to a condition known as Multiple personality disorder (MPD). Multiple personality disorder, also known as dissociative identity disorder, is a mental illness in which a person has two or more identities or personalities. Single personalities randomly take control of the individual’s behavior. Usually, the sufferer gives the personalities their own names. These multiple personalities almost always have characteristics that greatly differ from the person’s primary identity. A person with this disorder always experiences some amount of amnesia. Most of the time the individual forgets what each personality has done or said. People often act and feel differently in various settings. For example, teenagers may act differently at a party than they do at school. However, people in good mental health maintain constant awareness of themselves no matter what the situation. Individuals with dissociative identity disorder do not. They experience sudden changes in consciousness, identity, and memory. They may discover new clothing in their closet without knowing where they got it, or even find themselves in a strange place and not remember how they got there. Their identity is broken into pieces consisting of different emotions, memories, and styles. They may shift from being passive and accepting to being hostile and uncooperative. Sometimes one personality may cause the individual to inflict physical harm on his or her own body. The first recorded diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder was in 1815. The patient’s name was Mary Reynolds. This case however was not associated with abuse or neglect. It wasn’t until 1973 that Doctors started to make the connection between the disease, the abuse, and/or trauma. In 1994 the American Psychiatric Association (APA) changed the name of the disorder from multiple personality disorder to dissociative identity disorder. Psychiatrists wanted to emphasize the fact that the disorder is not really made up of many personalities living in one body, but rather of a failure to integrate various aspects of identity into a unified personality (www.mentalhelp.net). Simply put, individuals who suffer from this condition have only parts of personalities. Instead of any one complete identity. Multiple personality disorder is, in most cases, related directly to physical and sexual abuse as a child. It is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to diagnose a young child with this disorder because their personalities aren’t fully developed at this stage. Another related cause of dissociative disorder is trauma. Whether it be because of, sexual abuse, rape, combat, natural disasters, accidents, concentration camp experiences, loss of loved ones, financial catastrophes or severe marital discord (educationplanet.com). Kluft and Putnam are two psychologists who have proposed a list of causes of multiple personality disorder. 1. A history of repeated child abuse. 2. Subtle alternating personality changes such as a shy child with depressed, angry, seductive, and/or regressive episodes. 3. Amnesia of abuse and/or other recent events such as schoolwork, games and music. 7. Disavowed behaviors leading to being called a liar. In 100 cases of multiple personality disorder, Putnam found 83% incidence of sexual abuse, 75% incidence of Physical abuse, 61% of extreme neglect or abandonment, and an overall 97% incidence of any type of trauma at all (www.educationplanet.net) In childhood, individuals with dissociative identity disorder often appear moody or irresponsible because they switch personalities suddenly or deny having done something they did only moments ago (amnesia). Doctors often misdiagnose people with this disorder as having other mental illnesses. Critics claim the disorder is an invention of therapists. MPD is a real but rare condition. Separate personalities may be triggered by any anxiety or stress. The best treatment for the disorder is long-term psychotherapy aimed at helping patients to discover each of their personality states. To work through the aftermath of traumatic memories, achieve greater self-acceptance, and reduce self-damaging behavior (www.ISSD.com). Hypnosis may help a person control the spontaneous switching of personalities. Many people with this disorder suffer from depression and benefit from antidepressant medication such as Zoloft and Paxil. The disorder can be worked with by a psychiatrist and in some cases the Individual can be helped. In others the individual cannot. In order for the Outcome of the treatments to be a positive one, the sufferer must be mentally able and willing to cooperate and do the best that he or she can. It seems that the only thing that doctors know for sure is how the disease is caused. Even still answerless questions will continue to arise surrounding the dissociative Bibliography: Word Count: 764
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