In real life, in movies, and TV shows, you often hear people say, “The situation is so schizophrenic. I have several choices, all of which seem good to me.” More darkly, you may hear, from the same sources: “That person has several identities. They are schizophrenic, so beware.” Those phrases have some political incorrectness to repair, but that won’t be our focus today.
There is confusion in such language between Schizophrenia and Disassociative Identity Disorder (D.I.D.). These are two distinct mental disorders that are often confused. We talk a lot in this blog about schizophrenia, so let’s talk a bit about D.I.D. today.
Dissociative identity Disorder (D.I.D.) is a mental health condition in which a person has two or more distinct identities or personality states. These identities may have different names, ages, genders, and physical characteristics. People with D.I.D. may experience gaps in their memory, amnesia, and changes in their behavior, mood, and sense of self.
D.I.D. is a complex disorder often caused by childhood trauma, such as abuse or neglect. The trauma can cause the person to dissociate or detach from their thoughts, feelings, and memories. This dissociation can help the person cope with the trauma but can also lead to the development of D.I.D.
D.I.D. is a treatable disorder. Treatment typically involves psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or dialectical behavior therapy. In some cases, medication may also be used to help manage symptoms.
For a movie that gets it roughly right concerning D.I.D., I recommend the classic 1957 movie “The Three Faces of Eve,” starring Joanne Woodward. It’s an oasis in a vast desert of movies that propagate the worst stigma against the mental health consumer.
The confusion between schizophrenia and D.I.D. goes back to the coining of the word schizophrenia. The term “schizophrenia” was coined by Eugen Bleuler around 1910 and roughly translates to “splitting of the mind,” a term not meant to suggest a split personality but to describe a separation of psychological functions: cognition, percept, and affect. Indeed, when dealing with a relapse of schizophrenia, cognition, perception, and affect can become confused within themselves, making it difficult to use them together as a cohesive whole corresponding to reality.
Schizophrenia has nothing to do with the “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” story; even as an example of D.I.D., it doesn’t fit well. You cannot induce D.I.D. with a potion!