Why is did controversial

The dissociative identity disorder debate here, is, if we cannot find a solid link between a diagnosis of DID and trauma, then what is the basis for these symptoms and can they be explained by other diagnoses such as borderline personality disorder which has the symptom of identity disturbance as addressed in schema therapy?

The basis of this DID controversy is that first-person reports of dissociation based on existing diagnostic scales are invalid due to the crafting of said scales. It is argued that the way these scales are designed, increase false positives.

An example of one such question on a scale is, "I get so wrapped up in watching TV, reading, or playing a video game that I don't have any idea what's going on around me. Some healthcare professionals ask if dissociative identity disorder diagnosis proponents have a conflict of interest, such as monetary gain.

This creates a great incentive to diagnose DID. People should also keep in mind that there is some medical evidence of the existence of dissociative identity disorder:.

Full coverage of dissociative identity disorder controversies can be found here. Medically reviewed by Harry Croft, MD. While there is no medication that can treat dissociative disorders themselves, medications may be prescribed for associated depression, anxiety or other health issues. If someone you love has been diagnosed with DID, you may feel overwhelmed and confused. It can help to educate yourself as much as possible about DID.

Talk to a mental health professional to get accurate information and to voice your concerns. Treatment for DID can involve revisiting past traumatic experiences, which may be upsetting for friends and family. Make sure you look after yourself, and seek help to look after your own mental health.

Experiences of DID and dissociation can be challenging, but with support a full and meaningful life is possible. To chat with others who live with mental health issues, including DID, visit our safe and anonymous online Forums. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders DSM Dorahy, M.

Dissociative identity disorder: An empirical overview. Revisiting the etiological aspects of dissociative identity disorder: a biopsychosocial perspective. World Health Organization Skip to main content 18 Email us Visit forums Chat to us.

Dissociative identity disorder DID. Factsheet Forum Insight. Listen to this page. The majority of people with DID have experienced severe trauma in childhood, and dissociate as a way of coping with a situation that is too violent or traumatic for their conscious self to handle. Treatment can help people with DID lead long and fulfilling lives, and can involve psychotherapy and medication.

What is dissociative identity disorder? What are the symptoms of dissociative identity disorder? A person needs to meet the following criteria to be diagnosed with DID: The person experiences two or more distinct identities or personality states, each with its own way of thinking and relating. The person experiences amnesia and gaps in the recall of everyday events, personal information or traumatic events.

The person must be distressed or have trouble with parts of their life because of the disorder. But the bad makeup application wasn't what was out of the ordinary. DissociaDID glazed over halfway through the video. The YouTuber suddenly took on masculine mannerisms and stiffened up. Without context, the scene would seem bizarre. But for Chloe Wilkinson, the legal name of the creator of the DissociaDID channel , the sudden shift in personality is the norm. They have dissociative identity disorder, previously known as multiple personality disorder.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders describes dissociative identity disorder, or DID, as a psychiatric disorder in which a person shows at least two individual identities or personality states — known as "alters" — that can manifest through the person's behavior.

Wilkinson was diagnosed with DID after taking a leave from university. In , at 21 years old, they launched their channel to educate their close friends about the condition. Wilkinson's early videos tackled frequently asked questions about DID: What are alters? How do alters communicate and come to the surface? Is there a treatment for DID? As the channel gained traction and subscribers, Wilkinson's content evolved.

Subscribers wanted to meet the different alters in the "system" a term DID creators have used to describe a collection of alters and hear Wilkinson's reaction to negative portrayals of DID in the media. Some even requested makeup tutorials from the various alters. Wilkinson delivered, posting videos that showed switches between alters and illustrated the inner world in which the alters operated. As Wilkinson captured in the makeup tutorial, alters may emerge unexpectedly after being triggered.

Triggers can be positive, such as a stuffed toy that brings out a juvenile alter, or negative, such as a reminder of past trauma. Just let me film," Wilkinson said in one video as they dissociated and other alters emerged. While Wilkinson often used the pronoun of the alter that was speaking while filming, they frequently used "they" and "them" to refer to the group of alters, also known as a system.

The decision to share their life on YouTube took Wilkinson on a journey they couldn't have anticipated, gaining DissociaDID a massive following and propelling them into the world of A-list YouTube drama that would eventually fracture a thriving community.

Experts believe DID is the result of a personality fragmenting as a means of self-protection, cutting off memories and trauma from some parts of the self to make life more manageable. Wilkinson frequently addressed the believed causes of DID in videos, often alluding to experiencing severe trauma in childhood.

Robert T. Muller , a professor of clinical psychology at York University in Toronto who has over 20 years of experience working with people with DID, told Insider that the condition is usually, if not always, "a reaction to horrific, traumatic events that have happened early in childhood. Good research on DID is relatively new, he added, which makes people with the disorder easy targets of skepticism — even among medical professionals.

Misinformation about the disorder that's circulated online and furthered in media portrayals isn't helped by some in the psychiatric community making light of it, he said. As Wilkinson said in several videos, speaking about the disorder invited rampant speculation and skepticism from viewers.

Their diagnosis and the existence of DID at all were questioned constantly — and most fiercely — on Kiwi Farms, a forum where online figures are investigated and vilified, almost to an obsessive degree. He said people felt the same way about post-traumatic stress disorder before the psychiatric field had a term for it.