Multiple Personality Disorder Treatment

Almost everyone has heard of multiple personality disorder, thanks to Hollywood. In most of these movies, the person suffering from a multiple personality disorder is shown either as an evil psycho or a helpless victim who becomes a prey to a sexual abuser. To say that these movies exaggerate and glamorize would be an understatement. The real people with real psychosis of multiple personality or dissociative identity are quite different, as they deal with their disorder everyday while struggling to maintain any shred of normal and mundane life. If one just goes by watching these fantastical movies or reading even more fantastical novels, then one would only assume that these character never find solace in their life and their end is often violently tragic to say the least. But is it really so? Were they never been able find a cure for a disorder which is so catastrophic and heart wrenching? The answer to this question lies in the advent of modern psychotherapy.

Yes, treating multiple personality disorder is possible. However, it requires much patience and diligence of the person who is suffering from the multiple personality disorder, along with his family.

What is Multiple Personality Disorder?

We know that a multiple personality disorder is a psychosis where the patient develops different personalities (also known as alter egos) in his subconscious. These alter egos or personalities are usually quite diverse from the host personality (patient), and from time to time each alter ego takes over the conscious mind of the host. This happens due to some triggering event. Psychologists and psychiatrists alike have tried to open up the hidden realm of the patient's mind to get the bottom of such strange phenomena. The development of personalities are triggered as an escape route from the harsh reality when the patient feels inadequate or helpless in dealing with his circumstances. Even though it is a defense mechanism created by the mind, such occurrences only happen with the people who are prone to abnormal tendencies. Controversially, multiple personality disorder has been shunned by many medical professionals as sham due to mystery surrounding the origin of personalities.

Treating Multiple Personality Disorder

Multiple personality disorder is treated primarily through psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis helps to reveal the dissociative behavior of the patient and digs deeper into his subconscious by dwelling on past painful experiences. Catharsis is a tool used by the psychoanalyst to help the patient vent out his repressed feelings and anger. The biggest challenge in the treatment of multiple personality disorder is the identification of this disorder. Borderline personality disorder can also be confused with multiple personality disorder due to the inadequacy of the therapist. Sometimes, the therapist can also instill the idea of dissociative personality into the patient and encourage him to feign alter egos. Hence, a skilled psychoanalyst is the only hope for improving the mental health of a person who is suffering from such a psychosis.

Other than that, hypnosis is one arena which has been explored to get inside the mind of the multiple personality disorder sufferer. The alter egos might exist simultaneously, or take complete control over his conscious mind. Multiple personality disorder is a complex mental illness, hence, it take years for a person to be completely free of his alter egos. For this to happen, the patient has to first recognize his ailment and come to terms with his alter egos. Symptoms like dissociation from reality, deindividualization, amnesic episodes, etc., can be noticed in the patient. A multiple personality disorder patient often complains of being recognized by unknown people or having frequent a deja vu feeling. Even though these symptoms are unique, a diagnosis just on the basis of these symptoms can lead to a wrongful diagnosis.

As the alter ego results due to passive-aggressive behavior of the host personality, the alter ego could be violent and homicidal. In this case, electroconvulsive therapy or ECT can also be used by the psychiatrist. ECT is the modern name of the brutal shock therapy which was used in the olden days to treat mentally impaired people. Now, the treatment has improved and is not at all barbaric. For the complete cure of the patient, the presence of his family during the therapy and after that is a necessity. The family also has to undergo counseling too, to deal with this disorder.

Intense sessions of psychotherapy can go a long way in bringing a marked improvement in the patient's mental health. A good interview module of the psychologist can help with the diagnosis of multiple personality disorder. If you suspect yourself or your ward of this disorder, then it is better to see a psychiatrist as soon as possible. Remember, for others to help you, you have to help yourself first.