Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder)

If you have dissociative identity disorder (DID), you have two or more separate personalities that control your behavior at different times. DID, a mental health condition, can cause gaps in memory and other problems. Various types of psychotherapy can help you manage your symptoms.

Overview

What is dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental health condition. If you're living with DID, it means you have two or more separate identities. These personalities control your behavior at different times. Each identity has its own personal history, traits, likes and dislikes. DID can lead to gaps in memory and hallucinations (believing something is real when it isn’t).

Dissociative identity disorder used to be called multiple personality disorder or split personality disorder.

DID is one of several dissociative disorders. These disorders affect your ability to connect with reality. Other dissociative disorders include:

How common is DID?

DID is very rare. The disorder affects between 0.01 and 1% of the population. It can occur at any age. People assigned female at birth are more likely than people assigned male at birth to have DID.

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Symptoms and Causes

What are the signs and symptoms of DID?

A person with DID has two or more distinct identities. The “core” identity is your usual personality. “Alters” are your alternate personalities. Some people with DID have up to 100 alters.

Alters tend to be very different from one another. The identities might have different genders, ethnicities, interests and ways of interacting with their environments.

Other common signs and symptoms of DID can include:

What causes dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

DID is usually the result of sexual or physical abuse during childhood. Sometimes it develops in response to a natural disaster or other traumatic events like combat. The disorder is a way to distance or detach from the trauma.

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Diagnosis and Tests

Is there a test for DID?

There isn’t a single test that can diagnose DID. A healthcare provider will review your symptoms and your personal health history. They may perform tests to rule out underlying physical causes for your symptoms, such as head injuries or brain tumors.

Symptoms of DID often show up in childhood, between the ages of 5 and 10. But parents, teachers or healthcare providers may miss the signs. DID might be confused with other behavioral or learning problems common in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For this reason, DID usually isn’t diagnosed until adulthood.

Management and Treatment

What is the treatment for dissociative identity disorder (DID)?

Some medications may help with certain symptoms of DID, such as depression or anxiety. But the most effective treatment is psychotherapy. A healthcare provider with specialized training in mental health disorders, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, can guide you toward the right treatment. You may benefit from individual, group or family therapy.

Therapy focuses on:

  • Identifying and working through past trauma or abuse.
  • Managing sudden behavioral changes.
  • Merging separate identities into a single identity.

Can hypnosis help with DID?

Some healthcare providers may recommend hypnotherapy in combination with psychotherapy. Hypnotherapy is a form of guided meditation. It may help you recover suppressed memories.

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Prevention

Can dissociative identity disorder (DID) be prevented?

There’s no way to prevent DID. But identifying the signs as early in life as possible and seeking treatment can help you manage symptoms. Parents, caregivers and teachers should watch for signs in young children. Treatment soon after episodes of abuse or trauma may prevent DID from progressing.

Treatment can also help identify triggers that cause personality or identity changes. Common triggers include stress or substance abuse. Managing stress and avoiding drugs and alcohol may help reduce the frequency of different alters controlling your behavior.

Outlook / Prognosis

Will dissociative identity disorder (DID) go away?

There is no cure for DID. Most people will manage the disorder for the rest of their lives. But a combination of treatments can help reduce symptoms. You can learn to have more control over your behavior. Over time, you can function better at work, at home or in your community.

Living With

Are there ways to make living with DID easier?

A strong support system can make living with DID more manageable. Make sure you have healthcare providers, family members and friends who know about and understand your condition. Communicate openly and honestly with the people in your support system, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

If a friend or family member has DID, how can I help?

Having a loved one with DID can be confusing and overwhelming. You may not know how to respond to their different alters or behaviors. You can help by:

  • Learning about DID and its symptoms.
  • Offering to attend family counseling or support groups with your loved one.
  • Staying calm and supportive when sudden behavior changes occur.

When should I call my doctor about DID?

If you or someone you know has DID and exhibits any of the following symptoms, seek medical attention right away if you're seeing signs of:

In the United States, you can call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. This hotline connects you to a network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support. The centers support people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, call 911.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a mental health condition. Someone with DID has multiple, distinct personalities. The various identities control a person’s behavior at different times. The condition can cause memory loss, delusions or depression. DID is usually caused by past trauma. If you've been diagnosed with DID, therapy can help you manage your behaviors and reduce the frequency of identity “switches.” It’s important for anyone with DID to have a strong support system. Healthcare providers, family members and friends can help you manage DID.

Medically Reviewed

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 05/25/2021.

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