[strawberrylover]

Does this disorder exist and is real? Could split personality be caused by severe depression? And or frequent use of drugs/alcohol?

[beachloverjohn]

Yes it is very real. It is the existence of two or more personalities in a single person. And it is often caused by childhood trauma. This needs to be treated by psychotherapy. The childhood memories are usually suppressed, and therapy will try to recover them. Other causes could be Alzheimers, stroke, etc. And don't confuse this disorder with schizophrenia. That is completely different. People are often born with that disorder. And it involves experiences of hallucinations and delusions. {hearing voices, seeing demons, etc}

[DrBill100]

Multiple Personality Disorder is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). As of 1994 (DSM-IV) it became known as Dissociative Identity Disorder. So it is a real psychiatric condition derived from actual case studies.

In very broad terms it is characterized by having at least one "other" personality (sometimes called an alter) that controls behavior. The other personality(ies) occur spontaneously and involuntarily, and function independently of each other. It is described as the loss of the unity of consciousness, by which we identify ourselves.

As relates to your question about split personality, I need clarification. In the sense of separate identity? Have never heard of a case precipitated (caused) by depression or substance abuse.

However, the term is frequently used as an analogy for the behavioral swings of individuals when intoxicated as compared to their normal behavior. "He's not the same person when he's drunk. He's completely different. It's like he has a split personality."

If that doesn't answer your question, clarify it for me, and we'll give it another shot.

[Ceiling_cat]

Schitsophrenia is associated with drugs. Multiple personality disorder is very real and is thought to be the mind way of coping with a (or a series of) extreme trauma. The difference being, with schits you may hear or 'imagine' voices that are not yours, and multiple personality disorder you actually slip into 'being' another person.

[J_9]

schitsophrenia is associated with drugs. multiple personality disorder is very real and is thought to be the mind way of coping with a (or a series of) extreme trauma. The difference being, with schits you may hear or 'imagine' voices that are not yours, and multiple personality disorder you actually slip into 'being' another person.

You are kidding me right? Where do you get your medical info from?

"Schitsophrenia" is actually schizophrenia and is NOT associated with drugs. It's "associated" with a family history as well as mental "trauma." It appears most often in the late teens and early twenties.

MPD, on the other hand, is usually considered a coping mechanism for severe physical, mental or emotional trauma. It is a true disorder but is very uncommon.

[mcers21]

Personality is the expression both inner and outer of an inividuals psychological and emotional response to their environment with what nature and nurture experienced by that individual.
There is no 'multiple personality' even when described by people who advocate and make money out of it - they are describing parts of a personality. Well sorry to say but these parts all form the individual personality. It is just that for some people there are unwelcome and unwanted parts which people do not want to address. The treatment for this ends with 're-integration' of the personality, by the very language demonstrates that it should be at best described as fragmented emotional states and not separate personalities - otherwise it gives people the excuse not to take responsibility for their actions however criminal. Sympathetically it is highly likely these people may have experienced early trauma - that has manifested maladaptive coping mechanisms. But let us not be persuaded by drama, but by clearer empirical logic that this difficult way of being is more likely a borderline personality disorder - whioch can be treated by therapies that work on the individual learning about owning their emotional response and also taking on personal responsibility for their actions.

[beachloverjohn]

I don't know, let me ask my alter ego. We both agree the answer is YES.

[strawberrylover]

Lol?