Gillig, P. M. (2009, March). Dissociative identity disorder: A controversial diagnosis. Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township)). Retrieved August 2, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2719457/ 

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DID is still a disorder that is not heavily studied yet however some interventions and treatments are used to help individuals with DID to live a functional life.

Psychotherapy: integration of separate personalities into one and working through the trauma by “fusing” the alters
Trauma-focused behavioral therapy and dialectical behavioral therapy
Hypnosis as therapy as they are more prone to hypnotized
Some medications can help to treat symptoms of DID such as anxiety and depression but not DID itself.

Treatments of DID

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Treatment Controversy


DID is a controversial disorder that has been a subject of debate, especially with regard to its status within the DSM-5. 


Treatment Credibility/Recognition:
A significant contributor to this ambiguity and controversy is the fact the perception that DID could be iatrogenic (the treatment and diagnosis induces the symptoms of the disorder). One course of treatment is dialectical behavioural therapy, and people having DID could be more susceptible to hypnosis- bringing the validity and clarity of the outcomes through such treatments into question. Perhaps the suggestion of a particular cause could drive the patients to believe that to be the case. 


Complication in Treatment: 
Given its overlap with other disorders like Borderline Personality Disorder and PTSD, there is a tendency to over diagnose DID which confuses the treatment and attention provided to an already susceptible patient. Often times, when people do seek help for DID they could be in a particular personality or state where they have lost touch with reality, hence making it difficult to treat or diagnose accurately in that moment as well. 

Another potentially controversial aspect of treatment is the emergence of multiple personality states during treatment sessions. While treating and understanding various (especially dominant) personality traits has proven to be effective in integration and coping, the way in which a therapist responds or treats more antisocial or risky personality traits should not be dismissive. Given the potential causes of the disorder, it is important to recognise the value of each personality as a defence or escape. 

Treatment Controversy 

DID can be treated with a three-step approach also used for other personality disorders. This method entails:
1. Stabilizing the patient, making sure they are safe (suicidal risk is often high), and reducing symptoms.
2. Work through the patient's traumatic memories.
3. Integrating their identity and work towards rehabilitation.

Three-step treatment option for people with DID

According to literature, DID patients are more hypnotizable than usual which makes treating them through hypnosis an option. Many patients are able to enter a hypnotic state by themselves. This method of treatment can be useful to access alters not initially present in the moment.

Hypnosis as therapy for treating DID

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be used in stable DID patients to decrease stress associated with their trauma and also achieve the following:
- reduce and contain symptoms;
- strengthen patient's ego;
- work with the patient's alters.

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