Question

What is dissociative identity disorder?

Describe three treatments used to treat dissociative identity disorder, and explain interventions within the treatments.

Answer 1

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) refers to a severe condition which has two or more distinct identities, or personality states. Each alternate personality may have a unique name, personal history, and characteristics. The person also experiences memory loss. This disorder is usually a reaction to trauma as a way to help a person avoid bad memories. This disorder was previously called multiple personality disorder.

The treatment for most people with DID includes mainly psychotherapy often hypnosis and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). The primary care doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe medications to relieve symptoms.

Psychotherapy refers to a form of therapy in which the primary focus is to reveal the unconscious content of a client's psyche. In treating individuals with DID, therapists usually use individual, family, and/or group psychotherapy. This is necessary to make the client get relief from the psychic tension.

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) refers to a type of treatment in which the medical practitioner provokes the patient to recall the distressing event. This process may trigger enhanced information processing thereby help in the healing of the patient.

Many people with DID also benefit from medications such as antidepressants as the individuals possess issues of depression, anxiety, and anger or impulse control problems.