Over the past three decades there has been a resurgence of study of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), formerly known as Multiple Personality Disorder. Studies show that DID is linked to intense childhood trauma (incest, abuse). It is considered the most severe of dissociative disorders. Recently, clinical research has begun to track the treatment and progress of patients with DID. More studies are being done on the types of treatments and follow-ups. The most common type of treatment is psychotherapy. Another treatment is the phenomenological treatments. Both treatments are very different but are similar in the goal of integrating (unity) or resolution (collaboration of alters) of the alters of the patients, so they can function as a single person. It has been shown that patients who achieve integration show more improvement than non-integrated patients.
DID is considered to be "chronic, polysymptomatic, and pleiomorphic posttraumatic dissociative psychopathology characterized by the presence of multiple identities (personality states or alters) and amnesia-(Kluft, R.P. 1999, p.290). Richard P. Kluft, MD uses this definition as the requirements for using a stage-oriented treatment of trauma spelled out by Janet and elaborated on by Herman. Trauma is a requirement for the use of this type of psychotherapy because trauma has been documented in 95% of patients. This method consists of three stages: safety, remembrance and mourning, and reconnection. (Kluft, R.P. 1999, p.289 - 299).
The first stage is safety. The therapist must create an empathic environment that will facilitate feelings of safety for the patient. First, arrangements for treatment should be made. Then, a trust between therapist and patient must be established, and the patient should be prepared for what might occur during treatment. This involves discussion of the treatment and techniques to be used, as well as their anticipated benefits and risks to the patient.
