The Road to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) Megan Koma McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts: Psychology Faculty Advisor: Dr. Walsh Introduction Relevant Research Conclusion Less than 2% of the world’s population suffers from A group of researchers working for The Italian Group It has been discovered that people often develop Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), or as commonly for the Study of Dissociation conducted an experiment Dissociative Identity Disorder to cope with some form known, Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). People in which they sought to understand if disorganized of abuse or trauma. Patients personalities are usually suffering from this disorder have and display at least attachment and trauma to either the infant or mother, divided into their normal everyday self, and their two distinct and enduring personalities. Some patients led to a higher risk for dissociation disorders later in hidden self that copes with trauma. The characteristics do suffer from more than two personalities, but it is an the child’s life. Trauma included occurrences such as: of these second personalities range from person to extremely rare case. Research into this disorder has abuse to the child, witnessing violence, neglect, person but are often more timid, quiet, and accepting. found that two main factors lead to its diagnosis: bereavement, martial separation, and serious health Some patients are not consciously aware of their trauma and disorganized attachment. The purpose of or financial problems. Researchers sampled 52 cases second personality and the information it holds out of this proJect is to understand how the personalities are (patients who had already been diagnosed with a their conscious reach. Patients are sometimes unable shaped by these two main factors. I will also analyze dissociative disorder (DD) or borderline personality to recall or explain their abuse because their second what makes one person more susceptible than the next disorder(BPD)) and 146 controls (patients who had personality keeps it from their consciousness as means to developing this disorder, and if it can ultimately be been diagnosed with something other than DD or BPD of protection. It was discovered that children are more prevented. The question of whether there are other such as an anxiety disorder). This sample consisted of likely to develop DID as a means of dealing with trauma major factors that could contribute to a diagnosis of 49 males and 149 females, 116 were in-patients and 82 that they may not be able to understand or handle. this disorder will also be discussed. of whom were out-patients. Each patient, and their There is no one factor that makes one person suffering mothers, were interviewed and given several from trauma and/or disorganized attachment more Trauma and Disorganized Attachment questionnaires focusing on early childhood trauma and susceptible to developing DID than the next. The only disorganized attachment instances. The results of this way that the development of DID to be stopped is to Trauma and Disorganized Attachment are the two main study are displayed below. stop all abuse and trauma against children, which factors that lead an individual to develop DID. Trauma unfortunately, is near impossible. It is also important typically involves some form of abuse, whether it be Mothers’ Severe Mothers’ Severe Stressful Life Events: Stressful Life Events: to note that those individuals who develop and suffer emotional, verbal, physical or sexual. It is also not Cases Controls from DID are at a higher risk to develop complex forms uncommon for this abuse to be carried out by Did not suffer Did not of PTSD, dissociative disorders, and borderline attachment figures, or someone of importance in the from severe Suffered suffer from Suffered stressful life from severe severe from severe personality disorder. child’s life. Disorganized attachment, sometimes events 36.5% stressful life stressful life stressful life events events 39.7% events referred to as attachment disorder, refers to children 63.5% 60.3% References who have “unorganized” patterns of interaction with Pasquini, P., Liotti, G., Mazzotti, E., Fassone, G., & Picardi, A. their caregiver. Many of these children may also (2002). Risk factors in the early family life of patients exhibit signs of fear towards their caregiver because Patients’ Early Traumatic Patients’ Early Traumatic suffering from dissociative disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Experiences : Cases Experiences: Controls they have suffered from maltreatment inflicted by the Did not Scandinavica, 105(2), 110–116. doi: 10.1034/J.1600- suffer from caregiver. Given that both trauma and disorganized early 0447.2002.01062.x traumatic Did not experiences attachment occur as a result of abuse and Suffered suffer from Suffered from 11.5 % early from early early traumatic Liotti, G. (2004). Trauma, dissociation, and disorganized maltreatment, most likely by a caregiver or someone traumatic traumatic experiences experiences experiences 47.9% 52.1% attachment: Three strands of a single close to the child, it should come as no surprise that 88.5% braid. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research,Practice, many people in this situation develop another identity Training, 41(4), 472–486. doi: 10.1037/0033- to help cope with this trauma. 3204.41.4.472.