Dissociative Identity Disorder and Stress - Research Paper Example

 Dissociative Identity Disorder Dissociative Identity Disorder is based upon the aspect of dissociation of the personality of an individual. Dissociation is explained as “the disconnection or lack of integration between the normally integrated functions of memory, identity or consciousness (American Psychiatric Association 2000). The Dissociative Identity Disorder was referred initially to as multiple personality disorder and it is characterized by loss of voluntary control by an individual and hence the person tends to lose his memory as well as ownership. It is characterized by the person’s presentation with more than one personality. The psychopathological condition is considered to result mainly due to a traumatic accident in the life of an individual and the condition tends to persist until specific interventions are used to treat the problem. The diagnostic criteria for the condition are laid in the DSM IV and the treatment options for the condition are medications along with specific behavioral therapies (Haddock 2001; Krauker 2001). The history of dissociation can be traced back to the Egyptian times when it was associated with the belief of the person being taken over and controlled by spirits. This was followed by the concept of the holy book of the Christians Bible which highlighted an incident where Jesus treated a man who was considered to be possessed by spirits. This case was associated by many with the condition of multiple personality. This concept of possession associated with the changes in the personality of an individual continued throughout the seventeenth, eighteenth and most of the nineteenth century. The symptoms of the possessed individuals were analyzed mainly to be the inability of speaking along with loss of memory as well as loss of function of the body parts. By 1820, the concept of hypnosis also came to be recognized and with the recognition of this concept, the number of people who presented with dissociative personalities also increased (Rubin et al 2005). The first case of this condition which was officially published was done so in the year 1840 by Despine and this case was that of a girl who was only 11 years old and who had acquired a second personality of an angel who she considered as a helper (Kuft 1985). By the twentieth century the number of cases increased and most of the cases were diagnosed mainly in the United States. Towards the beginning of the twentieth century dissociation disorder was classified as a part of the condition of hysteria and it was only after the 1950s that it started to become recognized as a separate condition. The movie “The Three Phases of Eve and Sibil” served to bring greater attention towards the condition by the end of the twentieth century and the movie highlighted a link between the disorder and mistreatment and exploitation during childhood (Rubin et al 2005). Current researches and evidence have led to define and explain this disorder in a more organized fashion explaining all its aspects. This condition was initially considered to be treated by hypnosis (Kuft 1985) but with time new treatment therapies have evolved which include medications as well as behavioral therapies. With time it has been understood that dissociated may also occur normally and every person has a tendency to dissociate in real life. A very good example is when a person is absorbed in watching a program on the television; he does pay attention at times to other people who may even refer to him. On the other hand there is a psychopathological component of dissociation when a person does not have control over the normal activities that he performs (Haddock 2001; Krakauer 2001). The underlying reasons and causes of Dissociative Identity Disorder have been identified. It has been analyzed that an individual who has a background of dissociation may end up with DID due to trauma that he might have suffered at an early age. This explains a concept a few people possess a higher genetic susceptibility to suffer from DID if they suffer from trauma. It is explained that DID has a direct relationship with the trauma that an individual receives at an early age that is with increasing severity of the trauma the symptoms and presentation of the patient becomes complex and severe. DID results when an individual is not able to withstand the trauma in his life and on that instance he tends to create an alternative ego. This alternate ego is a resort for the individual to save him from experiencing the trauma in his mind. This ego tends to develop in his mind. It has also been presented that an individual may develop this alternate ego due to the demand of his occupation (Krakauer 2001). There is the development of a host personality in a DID patient which takes control over the actions and activities of the individual. The change from one personality to another in the patient is referred to as “switch”. The person does not tend to remember important information with regard to his life during the switches. Furthermore it has been analyzed that this disorder does not result due to drugs or substances of abuse but is mainly adopted through environmental stress (Haddock 2001; Krakauer 2001). The diagnosis of the disorder is based upon the methods given in DSM-IV. According to this criterion, the patient should suffer from two completely distinct personalities. The switch between the two personalities should be common and not be incidental. The two personalities should be aware of their own surroundings and existence Amnesia is also an essential sign as the person does not remember the occurrences of the alter ego. The resulting condition of the patient should not be associated with substances like alcohol. The disorder tends to begin mainly in childhood but symptoms tend to appear between after the age of twenty till the age of 39 (Haddock 2001; Krakauer 2001; First et al 2009). Patients suffering from DID may present with depression. They can also have a tendency to harm themselves and they are unable to form strong bonds and relationships. Some of the patients may also have seizures, loss of memory as well as a very short temper (Krakauer 2001; First et al 2009). A group of researchers have analyzed that DID does not truly exist is a disorder which has just been suggested by psychologists. They explain their claim with a research that was conducted on college students who were asked to form an alter ego to protect themselves from getting convicted. The research turned out to be a success as many students were able to provide good defensive arguments. The proponents of the disorder highlighted a research which was conducted by Condon, Ogston and Pacoe which was done on a patient of DID. They presented their findings that when the switch was experienced by the patient, she presented with microstrabismus (incomplete fixation movements by the eye). MRIs of the patients of DID further uphold the claim as they showed that after the patients experienced a switch, they had a rise in their increased hippocampal and medial temporal activity (Durand et al 2003; Haddock 2001; Krakauer 2001). Thus the activity of these regions of the brain is affected by this condition. Furthermore it is analyzed that the orbitofrontal complex which is associated with the memory of an individual is also affected by this disorder. Also the process of myelination gets completed by the age 12 years and hence strained relationships and traumas at early ages can result in improper myelination and resulting in this condition (Forest 2001). Dissociative Identity Disorder is a condition that results due to stress and this stress should be the target of treatment. The assistance of family and friends is essential to explain to the patient his state of switch. Tranquilizers are also prescribed followed by hypnosis to assist the patients in facing the reality. Psychotherpay is considered to be the best form of treatment. The purpose of this therapy is to understand the problems of the patients and target their solutions. Medications are to be combined with psychotherapy for the best results. Antidepressants are also useful for these patients (Krakauer 2001; Durand et al 2003). Works Cited American Psychiatric Association., & American Psychiatric Association.Top of Form Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Dsm-iv-tr. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Print. Top of Form Durand, Vincent M, David H. Barlow, and Vincent M. Durand. Essentials of Abnormal Psychology. Pacific Grove, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2003. Print. Top of Form First, Michael B, and Allan Tasman. Clinical Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Print. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Forrest, Kelly. "Toward an Etiology of Dissociative Identity Disorder: a Neurodevelopmental Approach."Consciousness and Cognition. 10.3 (2001): 259-293. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Haddock, Deborah B. The Dissociative Identity Disorder Sourcebook. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 2001. Print. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Kluft, Richard P. Childhood Antecedents of Multiple Personality. Washington, D.C: American Psychiatric Press, 1985. Print. Top of Form Krakauer, Sarah Y. Treating Dissociative Identity Disorder: The Power of the Collective Heart. Philadelphia: Brunner-Routledge, 2001. Print. Bottom of Form Top of Form Rubin, Eugene H, and Charles F. Zorumski. Adult Psychiatry. Malden (Mass.: Blackwell, 2005. Print. Bottom of Form Bottom of Form Read More