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Maura Coolbaugh
Chadwick/ Lang 120
November 30, 2015
Persuasive Essay
Many Persons One Mind
When Multiple Personality Disorder, or Dissociative Identity Disorder, or any
other mental illness is brought up, what type of person do you envision? A sad and lonely
child who has been abused? Or maybe a homeless man that is crazed and violent? Or
possibly you think of the numerous horror movies with sick and twisted villains? With all
these ideas and examples that pop into your head, you probably never thought of a
scholar, professional athlete, or musician suffering with this illness. Richard Oxnam is an
American scholar, former college professor, and former president of the Asian Society
who spent his life studying Chinese culture. He is currently a private consultant for
matters regarding China, however, Oxnam was diagnosed with DID in 1990 during one
of his alcoholism recovery therapy sessions (Grimminck). Adam Duritz, an American
songwriter, musician, and film producer for the alternative rock group Counting Crows
sees a therapist and receives medications in order to manage his disorder. Herschel
Walker, a mixed martial artists and former football player who played for the
Philadelphia Eagles doesnt even remember winning the Heisman Trophy due to his
undiagnosed Dissociative Identity Disorder (Famous People).
Dissociative Identity Disorder, also known as DID, is a condition in which two or
more distinct identities, or personality states, are present in an individual. Dissociative
Identity Disorder was previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder, or MPD;

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however, the name was changed in 1994 in order to reflect a better understanding of the
condition-namely, that is characterized by a fragmentation, or splintering, of identity
rather than by a proliferation, or growth, of separate identities (Psychology Today).
The majority of people with DID have experienced severe physical or sexual abuse
during childhood as well as show symptoms of PTSD. Etiology, Epidemiology, and
Phenomenology is a chapter within the book Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple
Personality Disorder that explains how a major component in the forming of MPD is a
traumatic event that happened within a specific developmental window of childhood.
repeated childhood trauma enhances normative dissociative capacities, which in turn
provides the basis for the creation and elaboration of alter personality states over time.
(Putnam, 45). Trauma includes physical and sexual abuse, as well as non-abusive, such as
witnessing a violent death of a loved one. Dissociative Identity Disorder is a natural
defense against these traumas since severely traumatized children dissociate their
painful experiences and repress them (Piper). Although it was found that abuse could
influence DID in children, it is not always seen as a direct cause of the condition.
Symptoms of MPD are described in a wide variety of ways such as depressive symptoms,
dissociative symptoms, and hallucinations. These all include mood swings, a negative
outlook on the world, reoccurring nightmares, sleepwalking, depersonalization feelings,
and hallucinations which usually comment on ones thoughts or actions.
The first fully reported case of Multiple Personality Disorder was in 1791, by
Gmelin, of a 22-year-old German woman whom had suddenly changed her personality to
that of a French-born lady. After this case was reported many more began to show up all
over the world in different ways. Then, in 1860 the Mary Reynolds case was described

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and has since been used as the starting point of DID and MPD diagnoses. After 1875, the
disorder appeared mainly in women who had been either in psychotherapy or under
hypnosis. The number of reported cases of Dissociative Identity Disorder increased
strikingly in the 1980s, however, there are been claims that between the 19th century and
current cases, only the description of the disorder has changed and not the disorder itself
(Piper). Specialists in psychiatry, Doctors Piper and Merskey, came to the conclusion
within their article The Persistence of Folly: A Critical Examination of Dissociative
Identity Disorder, that it seems implausible that the early cases of alleged MPD, on
which the later developments are said to be founded, deserve any designation other than
that of bipolar illness or the products of gross suggestion. This idea gives light to the
conflicted feelings specialists hold about Dissociative Identity Disorder. Even at the early
stages in the history of DID, it is seen that over time the number of personalities grows
within a person. With the case Three Faces of Eve, therapists first recognized only three
separate personalities, then, two decades later there revealed to be about 20 personalities
within one woman. It was alleged that patients began making up alters; there are reports
of therapists taking note of their patients having hundreds of personalities. This led to
more and more people not believing in the true diagnosis of DID or MPD. (Piper)
The diagnosis of DID remains controversial throughout various mental health experts
as some experts [believe] that it is really an offshoot phenomenon of another
psychiatric problem, such as borderline personality disorder, or the product of profound
difficulties in coping abilities (Goldberg). Another point that experts have made is
patients with this disorder are known to be easily hypnotized, and some symptoms have
occurred due to therapist suggestion under hypnosis (Psychology Today). DSM-5,

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Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, is the main psychiatric test used
to diagnose and classify mental illnesses; it holds the following criteria to diagnose
Dissociative Identity Disorder:

Two or more distinct identities or personality states are present

Gaps in the recall of everyday events, important personal information, and/or

traumatic events
Distressed by the disorder or have trouble functioning in one or more major

life areas
Disturbance is not part of normal cultural or religious practices
Symptoms can not be due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or
a general medical condition (Goldberg)

After being diagnosed, the next issue patients face is choosing the proper way to address
their symptoms and disorder. Although there are no medications or treatments that can
directly cure Dissociative Identity Disorder, certain physicians can prescribe
antidepressants and other anti-anxiety drugs in order to help control the symptoms
(Psychology Today). Some treatment options such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, and
adjunctive therapy have been found to be the most helpful approach. The goal of
psychotherapy is to get all the alters, or alternate personalities, to recognize they share the
same body and to unify them in order to become an integrated person. This is done by
bridging the dissociative gaps by remembering parts of the past while also being in the
present. Hypnosis is helpful when assessing specific alters and to reduce certain
symptoms such as flashbacks and hallucinations. Adjunctive treatments are those of
group and family therapy, self-help groups, and expressive therapies such as art.
(Maisano)

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Dissociative Identity Disorder has many different effects on people, even after
they have been cured. In the news feature, Lost in the Mirror: Women with Multiple
Personalities, there are two women interviewed with different views and outcomes of
DID. One of the women who was interviewed, Chris Costner Sizemore, more commonly
known as Eve, was also the subject of a Hollywood film called The Three Faces of Eve,
which was one of the first to present this new idea of multiple personalities to the public.
Chris withheld her true identity from the public, and continued living as Eve, until the
1970s. Chris has been cured for a little over 20 years and feels like each personality that
she lost was a real person; some of them even packed away their stuff as a way of saying
goodbye. With each therapy session, in which Eve went through hypnosis and
psychotherapy to unify the alters, she felt closer to being just one personality, her true
self. However, in the interview Eve suggests that each personality was a very real person
to her and although they had made her life more difficult, it was hard for her to let them
all go. She describes her feelings at their departure as if they had packed their belongings
into trunks then put on their favorite outfits and laid on the couch (Lost). The other
woman, Lucy, is still traumatized by her past and attempts to manage her personalities by
regularly visiting a therapist, but they are all out of control. During the film the audience
can witness the change in personalities; as Lucy was answering the audience witnesses an
abrupt switch in attitude; she began acting childish and crying (Lost). The effects this
disorder can have on people, their thoughts and how they live can vary depending on the
person and their personal experiences.
Dissociative Identity Disorder has been misrepresented throughout years of
research due to the changes in descriptions left by therapists and psychologists. The same

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research that was used to help define the disorder ended up changing it over the years,
causing doctors not know what to expect from their patients. This confusion has led to the
formation of societies in order to support those who are suffering and to encourage
doctors to continue their work. This support gives the physicians and patients plenty of
publicity; which is both helpful and harmful. Support groups raise money to aid the
research and care for the patients. However, these societies also allow for therapists and
researchers to gain publicity for their work and therefore, lead to results being altered or
descriptions exaggerated. This attention is given to patients as well, which can be seen as
an opportunity to become famous. These acts abuse the kindness of others for those
suffering. However, patients and doctors who truly need and fully utilize the help do not
abuse it for personal gain.
In the early 1990s there started a major decline in Dissociative Identity Disorder
support. Between 1993 and 1998, the principal dissociative disorders organization lost at
least half of its members, as well as DID units throughout Canada and the United States
closed down (Piper). Currently, the support is through online forums or blogs where
people are able to talk with others dealing with similar problems along with those who
went through similar situations. There is occasionally a therapist or doctor available on
these forums but that is not the case for all sites. Ivory Garden is one example of these
sites with discussion forums. The purpose of this website is to support survivors and
provide a place for others to support survivors, as well as raising both public and
professional awareness of childhood trauma and abuse. The foundation also hosts an
annual Trauma and Dissociation Conference in various locations. Pandoras Project is a
nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing information, support, and resources

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to those who have survived abuse and those who wish to support survivors. The website
contains a message board, chat rooms, and articles and resources so that people can be
informed and have an option for an outlet online.
There are not a lot of options for those dealing with Dissociative Identity
Disorder; most support helps those recovering from the abuse and trauma but does not
address those who have already been diagnosed. However, there are not many selections
in real life for anyone, whether diagnosed with DID or recovering from abuse; the only
choice is to go to therapy or see someone regularly. There is not much of an outlet or
alternate option for people to personally connect with. Knowing how severe this disorder
is and how devastating it can be, there are shockingly very few choices, if any at all, to
help those who are suffering. Imagine having a friend, family member, or any loved one
dealing with hallucinations, unable to control their own thoughts and losing their own
memories to another personality within themselves. It is important to step up, join the
support, and raise awareness; you never know whose live you may save that day.

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Works Cited
"Famous People with Dissociative Identity Disorder." HRFnd. HealthResearchFunding,
11 Dec. 2013. Web. 16 Nov. 2015. <http://healthresearchfunding.org/famouspeople-dissociative-identity-disorder/>.
Goldberg, Joseph. "Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder): Signs,
Symptoms, Treatment." WebMD. WebMD, 31 May 2014. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
<http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiplepersonality-disorder?page=5>.
Grimminck, Robert. "10 Famous Cases Of Dissociative Identity Disorder - Listverse."
Listverse. N.p., 15 Mar. 2015. Web. 16 Nov. 2015.
<http://listverse.com/2015/03/16/10-famous-cases-of-dissociative-identitydisorder/>.
"Ivory Garden Supports Dissociative Identity Disorder Survivors of Child Abuse and
Provides Conferences, Forums, Chatrooms and Support." Http://www.igdid.com.
Web. 22 Nov. 2015. <http://www.igdid.com/#>.
Lost in the Mirror: Women with Multiple Personalities. Films On Demand. Films Media
Group, 1998. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <http://0digital.films.com.wncln.wncln.org/PortalViewVideo.aspx?xtid=9257>.
Maisano, Micheal. "Dissociative Identity Disorder (Treatment)." SpringerReference
(2010): n. pag. Web.
<http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20101214233217/adultpsychopathology/
images/7/7c/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder.pdf>.

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Piper, August and Harold Merskey. "The Persistence of Folly: A Critical Examination of
Dissociative Identity Disorder. Part I. The Excesses of an Improbable Concept
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry 59.9 (2004): 592-600. Canadian Psychiatric
Association. Web. 22 Oct. 2015. <http://wncln.wncln.org/docview/222846787?
accountid=8388>.
"Psychology Today." Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder).
Sussex, n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2015.
<https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dissociative-identity-disordermultiple-personality-disorder>.
Putnam, Frank W. "Etiology, Epidemiology, and Phenomenology." Diagnosis and
Treatment of Multiple Personality Disorder. New York: Guilford, 1989. 45-70.
Print.
"Welcome To Pandora's Project-----." Rape & Sexual Abuse Survivor Message Board,
Online Support & Chat Room. Web. 22 Nov. 2015. <http://www.pandys.org/>.