Split Personality Test

Among the various mental illnesses that have plagued the human mind, the split personality disorder has been considered as one of the most confusing and terrifying disorder to have affected a person. Confusing because alternating personalities not only leave everyone around the affected person clueless, but the affected person herself/himself too. Terrifying because the affected person has no control over the behavior or actions of the alternate personality. Thus, diagnosing and treating this disorder is a real challenge, which can take several years. The diagnosis of various symptoms of split personality is done by the means of a test, that has been specifically designed to understand this condition. Even so, just this test is not enough to diagnose this disorder. There are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration. Here, we will attempt to understand the multiple personality test used to diagnose such a personality.

What is a Split Personality Disorder?

Split personality disorder refers to the existence of two or more distinct, and sometimes, very different personalities within one person. Various situations and events may trigger a switch in the personalities residing within one person. This condition was traditionally known as the multiple personality disorder, and is now known as the dissociative personality disorder or what a layman would call a split personality disorder. When an individual suffers from this disorder, any personality type may come to the fore, and forge different relationships with different individuals based on the dominant personality. As such, those who suffer from this disorder feel as though life is passing them by, but they are not living it. The most prominent symptom in those who suffer from it is the presence of high moral values in the primary personality, with a vast difference in values in the sub-personalities. Not everyone suffering from this personality disorder may exhibit this symptom, but it is one that has been noticed in several cases.

Split Personality Disorder Test

A split personality disorder test or a dissociative identity disorder test is not like a regular blood test, that is checked and from which different health conditions are diagnosed. The creation and development of a suitable test to diagnose and treat split personality has undergone several changes over time. As of now, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) has defined certain tests to diagnose this disorder. These tests entail the control of the affected person by the different personalities that reside within her/his body, with the possibility of suffering from severe memory lapses. The following screening procedures that have a structured interview may be used to diagnose a split personality disorder.

• SCID-D (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative disorders ): This interview takes about 30-90 minutes to conduct depending on the kind of experiences the subject or the patient has been exposed to.
• DDIS (Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule): Conducted in a span of 30-45 minutes, this test is highly structured, that enables the differentiation of the various diagnoses from DSM-IV.
• DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale): This is a simple test that has been used as a basic test to identify symptoms of a dissociative disorder. If a subject scores a high score in the DES test, then she/he will be put through the longer DDIS or SCID-D tests for clarification and confirmation of the diagnoses made.

Any of the aforementioned tests must be conducted by a qualified and licensed psychiatrist, who can utilize other tools to analyze and assess a personality disorder. The reliability of any of these personality disorder tests cannot be considered cent percent, because the symptoms of a split personality disorder are quite similar to several other personality disorders. This is the reason why diagnosing and treating this disorder is so time-consuming. There are several tests available online, that are meant to be humorous and explain whether you have a split personality. However, this is a matter that should not be taken lightly, and therefore, if you notice the presence of the symptoms of this disorder in someone around you, immediately consult a psychiatrist who will employ various tests and means to diagnose it.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert advice.