One of the most difficult and controversial disorders in terms of diagnosis and treatment is known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)(also known as Multiple Personality Disorder).  Some people in the mental health field do not believe this disorder exists. Having worked in a psychiatric hospital for 5 years, Dr. Schregardus has had the experience more than once of working with people who had been diagnosed with DID.  She has spoken with various personalities in one person and has had the experience of “calling out” one of the personalities.  Therefore, she believes that DID does really exist.  It is a very unique experience, as one deals with the various persons all at home in one body.  As Bridley & Daffin (2013) point out, each personality is definitely a unique individual with his/her own gender, age, sensory-motor functioning, memories, etc.  
The disorder has been dramatized in such movies as “The Three Faces of Eve” and “Sybil.”  There are various theories as to what is the best treatment.  
In the past, some accused murderers have claimed they were people with DID, but this did not stand up in court (see http://listverse.com/2015/03/16/10-famous-cases-of-dissociative-identity-disorder/ ).
 

• Go to the OER Website:  https://www.oercommons.org/authoring/46663-abnormal-psychology/view
  • Read in Unit 7 – Somatic Symptom Disorders and Dissociative Disorders
    • Dissociative Disorders
    • What are Dissociative Disorders?
    • Patient Story: Dissociative Disorders?
      
• Go to the OER Website:  https://opentext.wsu.edu/abnormal-psych/front-matter/table-of-contents/
  • Read Module 6: Dissociative Identity Disorder
    
• Consider the various aspects of DID.
  
• Prepare to engage in discussion the various aspects of DID.  What aspect do you find most interesting and why?