How common is split personality disorder?

Welcome, dear reader. Let’s delve into the topic of split personality disorder, or dissociative identity disorder as it is formally known!

Understanding Split Personality Disorder

Before we dive into how common this disorder is, let’s take a moment to understand what it entails. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) refers to a mental illness characterized by two or more distinct identities present in an individual that alternately control their behavior. The condition was previously referred to as ‘multiple personality disorder’ because these different identities can have their own set of personality traits, memories and even physical mannerisms.

This isn’t just your run-of-the-mill nutty professor Hollywood character trope where there’s always one version who has harmlessly quirky characteristics and another who fits the cliche evil-genius persona. Instead, people with DID often experience significant gaps in memory when switching between disassociated states (which sounds like a shitty superhero name)

Diagnosing Split Personality Disorder

Diagnosing DID remains controversial and riddled with skepticism among some circles in the medical field due to its complicated nature–it involves powerful psychological defense mechanisms emerging from complex childhood trauma.

It wouldn’t make sense for every other Joe Schmoe claiming they have multiple personalities after watching Fight Club one too many times (or do they? Blow mind intensifies), so specialists follow stringent protocols for diagnosis involving evaluation criteria laid out in DSM-5 – 2013 which includes recurrent lapses regarding personal information recall related with everyday events while two entirely different presentations go swiftly through an individual.

Symptoms of DID

Below are some common symptoms associated with DID:
– Fragmented sense of self.
– Severe anxiety attacks.
– Unwarranted suspicions regarding loved ones motives.
– Sudden changes within moods & behavioral patterns without explanation; reckless driving habits during episodes may ensue.

## How Many People are Affected by Split Personality Disorder?
A psychological illness like DID will always be a matter of concern, how many individuals does this condition affect? Firstly, it’s significant to understand that DID is considered relatively rare and complex as opposed to being widespread.

It has a prevalence rate of 1.5% of the general population making it quite uncommon. With more than seven billion people on earth today, even those numbers would mean there’s an estimated hundred fifty million folks who live with individual identities (not all diagnosed). (Wowza!)

Exploring Possible Reasons for Low Diagnosis Rates

Low rates are due in part to unavailability of specialized clinical care. Since this disorder is widely misunderstood due to Hollywood portrayals and the thoughtless stigmatization/shaming in our society at large; many people suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other disorders. This brings about high rates of mental health disparities and complications ultimately leading untreated patients into manifesting traumatic episodes over time.

Key Takeaways

To recap:
– Split personality disorder is formally known as dissociative identity disorder.
– It results from experiences predominantly during childhood involving trauma so severe that the child must subconsciously detach themselves from reality in order ‘to survive.’
– It manifests itself through two or more distinct personalities within one individual.
– The diagnosis process involves numerous extensively detailed evaluation procedures laid out confidentially through DSM – 2013 protocol which endorse rigid detecting criteria for optimal recognition & treatment planning opportunities.
– The condition affects just 1.5% percent of the general worldwide population resulting very rarely being reported cases hence.

We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about split personality disorder/DID but let us say that if any information included resonates with your own situation – please seek qualified help towards recovery!

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