Dissociative identity disorder

Dissociative identity disorder (DID), is a mental disorder. Its old name was multiple personality disorder.^[1] It is listed in the mental health diagnosis manual DSM IV.^[2]

The main symptom of DID is a person showing two or more "identities" or "personality states". The person behaves differently depending on which identity is in control. The second important symptom is when a person forgets important, personal things which people normally do not forget.

A person is not diagnosed with DID if the symptoms are caused by drugs, illness, or (with children) pretending to play with imaginary friends.^[2] Doctors or psychologists must also rule out pretending to have DID for some personal gain or attention (malingering).^[2][3] Most patients with DID are also diagnosed with other mental disorders.

1. ↑ Cite error: The named reference ICD-10 was used but no text was provided for refs named (see the help page).
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} American Psychiatric Association (June 2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (Text Revision). Vol. 1. Arlington, VA, USA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc. pp. 526–529. doi:10.1176/appi.books.9780890423349. ISBN 978-0-89042-024-9.
3. ↑ Farrell, H.M. (2011). "Dissociative identity disorder: Medicolegal challenges". The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. 39 (3): 402–406. PMID 21908758.