Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), previously termed multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological condition characterized by the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states. Each identity exhibits unique patterns of behavior, voice, and mannerisms and may possess separate memories and emotional responses. The alternating control between identities can result in memory gaps and challenges in recalling daily activities, often exacerbating the individual's...

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative disorders represent complex psychological conditions characterized by disruptions in consciousness, memory, identity, or perception. These disruptions cause individuals to experience a disconnection from their thoughts, emotions, and memories. The phenomenon is not merely an occasional lapse in attention but a profound alteration in mental functioning that can severely impact daily life.
Dissociative Fugue
A hallmark feature of dissociative disorders is the dissociative fugue...

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative Amnesia

Dissociative amnesia is a complex psychological condition that manifests as an inability to recall personal information, often tied to traumatic or stressful events. Unlike general amnesia, individuals with this condition retain the ability to perform routine activities and procedural tasks, such as operating a phone or navigating public transportation, yet experience profound gaps in autobiographical memory. These lapses may encompass significant life events, such as suicide attempts or...

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder is a complex and multifaceted mental health condition characterized by pervasive instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotions, and impulse control. This instability manifests in extreme emotional reactions, fear of abandonment, and self-destructive behaviors. The disorder significantly impacts daily functioning, often leading to distress in both personal and professional domains.
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) serves as the primary classification system for mental health disorders, providing standardized diagnostic criteria for clinicians and researchers. First published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1952, the DSM has undergone several revisions to reflect evolving psychiatric understanding. The fifth edition, DSM-5, released in 2013, introduced key updates that expanded diagnostic categories and modified diagnostic...

Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid

Personality Disorders: Paranoid and Schizoid

Personality disorders represent enduring cognition, affect, and behavior patterns that significantly deviate from societal norms. These maladaptive traits often lead to difficulties in various domains, including interpersonal relationships, occupational settings, and overall psychological well-being. Paranoid personality disorder and schizoid personality disorder are two distinct conditions marked by odd or eccentric behavior.
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paranoid personality disorder is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Toward impacting medical and psychiatric comorbidities in persons with intellectual/developmental disabilities: an initial prospective analysis.

Innovations in clinical neuroscience·2015

Same author

STRESS AND TRAUMA: Psychotherapy and Pharmacotherapy for Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder.

Innovations in clinical neuroscience·2014

Same author

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures.

Innovations in clinical neuroscience·2014

Same author

Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy for patients with dissociative identity disorder.

Innovations in clinical neuroscience·2013

Same author

Extrapyramidal examinations in psychiatry.

Innovations in clinical neuroscience·2012

Same author

Examining the therapeutic relationship and confronting resistances in psychodynamic psychotherapy: a certified public accountant case.

Innovations in clinical neuroscience·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Dissociative identity disorder: a controversial diagnosis.

Paulette Marie Gillig¹

¹Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA. paulette.gillig@wright.edu

Psychiatry (Edgmont (Pa. : Township))

|September 3, 2009

Summary

This study explores dissociative identity disorder (DID) controversies, comparing it with borderline personality disorder (BPD). It examines autohypnosis, alters, and neuroscientific findings on attention and memory in DID patients.

Keywords:

alters or alternates attachment (disorganized or disoriented type)borderline personality disorder childhood sexual trauma dissociative identity disorder multiple personality disorder

More Related Videos

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness

Published on: August 1, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder

Published on: March 8, 2018

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness

Assessment and Communication for People with Disorders of Consciousness

Published on: August 1, 2017

Area of Science:

Psychiatry and Psychology
Neuroscience

Background:

Controversies surrounding the diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder (DID).
Proposed similarities and differences between DID and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
The role of early childhood sexual trauma and disordered attachment in autohypnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

To discuss the phenomenon of autohypnosis and the meaning of alters in DID.
To explore recent neuroscientific research relevant to DID symptoms.
To provide recommendations for the treatment of DID.

Main Methods:

Review of existing literature on dissociative identity disorder and borderline personality disorder.
Discussion of autohypnosis in the context of trauma and attachment.
Integration of recent neuroscience findings related to attention and memory in DID.

Main Results:

Exploration of the complex relationship and diagnostic challenges between DID and BPD.
Discussion of alters as alternate identities within the context of trauma.
Identification of potential links between DID symptoms and disordered attention/memory processes based on neuroscience research.

Conclusions:

Understanding DID requires addressing diagnostic controversies and its relationship with BPD.
Autohypnosis and alters are key phenomena linked to trauma and attachment in DID.
Neuroscience offers insights into the cognitive underpinnings of DID, informing clinical approaches.