Tim Erskine

Mental Health

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Textbook Definition of Diagnosis

Dissociative Identity Disorder used to be known as multiple personality disorder. This

specific disease has unique characteristics, including the existent of two or more personality

states in one individual. Only one of these personalities is evident in a given moment and for the

majority of time, one personality has dominance over the others. The personalities can be

deciphered due to their individual characteristics, including specific memories, behavior patterns,

and social relationships.

Townsend, M.C. & Morgan, K.I. (2017). Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing.

Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company

Three Nursing Diagnoses

1. Risk for self-mutilation related to history of sexual abuse.

2. Impaired social interaction related to abusive family background as evidenced by

destructive behavior towards others.

3. Ineffective coping related to sexual abuse in early life as evidenced by poor judgement

and intense emotional dysregulation.

Signs and Symptoms Witnessed in Movie

There were many instances that pointed to dissociative identity disorder in the movie.

The first was the fact that the main character, Kevin Crumb, obtained twenty-three identities.

The interesting part about these identities were how different they were from one another. Each

identity had their own form of communication as well as their own personality traits. For
instance, there was a nine-year-old child named Hedwig that existed as one of the personalities.

Even the way Hedwig spoke gave away the fact that he was “coming into the light.” Hedwig

would dress in clothes that looked like they were made for kids that were full of bright colors and

he constantly said phrases such as, “You guys are trying to trick me again!” Hedwig even gave

out information the other identities would not want anyone to know and was repeatedly in

trouble for it. This showed that he truly had the mental capacity of a nine-year-old. Dennis was a

very serious personality and he was very dark and perverted. He had obsessive compulsive

disorder, a psychiatric illness that was not found in any other personality. Ms, Patricia was a

female personality and she was looked up to by Dennis and Hedwig. The other personalities also

had their own unique traits, one being a fashion designer one being a type 2 diabetic. This

highlights what we learned in class, that not only do these people have multiple personalities, but

each personality can have their own slew of health problems.

Treatments Discussed in the Movie and Text

Dr. Fletcher was Kevin Crumb’s therapist in this movie. Kevin attended therapy every

week for years, showing that this illness must constantly be maintained. He did not take any

drugs that were evident in the film. He did his own form of journaling to cope with his illness.

Each personality would make a video diary every day so he could keep track of who was

“coming into the light.” According to Dr. Fletcher, Kevin had done well in therapy and was able

to hold down an occupation until recently.

Within the text it is evident that Dissociative Identity Disorder is treated in some of the

above ways. Individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, cognitive behavior therapy, and

psychoeducation were all mentioned in the text. There is no specific medication for D.I.D., but

psychiatric medication can be used to treat the individual personality’s needs.

Effects Disorder has on others

The main character in the movie Split had no relatives or close friends that he would

visit. It seemed as though the only person he would see on a regular basis was his psychiatrist. In

class, we learned that these people often cannot hold down friendships or relationships due to

their impulsivity and constantly changing personalities. I believe Kevin was very alone. Even

when people he worked with found out what he did, they only referred to him as “that guy.” I

think Kevin laid low and didn’t associate with many people.

Thoughts

I thought this movie depicted what we learned in class about this disease almost exactly.

The actor did a very good job of showing each personality, which I am sure had to be hard to do.

As the audience, I could always tell which personality he was trying to bring across without him

even saying a name just by the mannerisms and outfits. I think this diagnosis is a very

debilitating one, but that it would be so interesting to see in real life. I am amazed there are really

people that live like this.