A 37-year-old member asked:
If someone suffered from multiple personality disorder, would they know?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Matthew Burkeanswered
Psychiatry 28 years experience
Depends: Firtsly, dissociative identity disorder is very rare, and most of the "diagnosed" cases are severe forms of personality disorders. Regarding the awareness, the people who truly suffer from it may be unaware of the alternate personalities, but they will be aware of missing time or other clues. Sometimes, the individual will be aware of the others.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Andrew Berryanswered
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Multiple personality: In the early stages of treatment, likely the dissociated aspects of the personality would not be aware of much of anything wrong, but as the personality reintegrates, memory and therefore identity and awareness improves, up to and including knowing that at the very least, something is emotionally wrong with them.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 40-year-old member asked:
Do people with multiple personality disorder know that they are suffering from it?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Pamela Pappasanswered
Psychiatry 44 years experience
In some ways: The central or personality or "alter" may be aware of the others, but some of the others may be unaware of the rest. All parts probably experience some suffering, but may not perceive the problem as one of "multiple personality" [actually now known as dissociative identity disorder]. Therefore, the answer to your question depends on which alter is in charge when you speak with the person.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
How can someone tell if they have multiple personality disorder?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Alan Alianswered
Psychiatry 34 years experience
DID (Multiple Person: Also called multiple personality do, is characterized by at least 2 distinct identities that alternately control one's behavior, accompanied by memory impairment for important information, not due to influence of illicit substances or seizures or other medical condition.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
How can I handle someone with multiple personality disorder?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Pamela Pappasanswered
Psychiatry 44 years experience
Dissociation: "multiple personality" is an outdated term for what's currently referred to as "dissociative identity disorder." here, a person has 2 or more distinct identities/personality states that recurrently take control of behavior. They can't recall important personal information, and it's not explained by ordinary forgetfulness or drug use. This is "handled" through intensive long-term psychotherapy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Wanted to know where can I find information on multiple personality disorder?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

Dr. Lawrence Smithanswered
Clinical Psychology 32 years experience
Search web: You might find useful information if you search under the term, "dissociative identity disorder, " which is the newer technical name for this disorder.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
What happens if a person with multiple personality disorder would each personality be someone real.. or fake?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

Dr. Andrew Berryanswered
Clinical Psychology 16 years experience
Multiple personality: The alters of MPD are often fragments of the host personality stored away in the unconscious (initially) for safeguarding against trauma. So you could say they are semi-real, and slowly introduced to each other through therapy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jun 24, 2018
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