Women's Auto/Biography and Dissociative Identity Disorder: Implications for Mental Health Practice

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychology
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is linked to severe childhood trauma.
• DID involves identity disruption with distinct personality states.
• Dissociation persists post-trauma, affecting cognition and memory.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore lived experiences of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
• To utilize narrative analysis for deeper comprehension of DID.
• To inform empathetic understanding and therapeutic alliances in mental healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Close textual reading and thematic analysis of five biographical/autobiographical texts.
• Qualitative research approach focusing on illness narratives.
• Exploration of subjective experiences of Dissociative Identity Disorder.

Main Results:

• Illness narratives offer rich insights into the subjective experience of DID.
• Narrative analysis facilitates understanding of the complexities of DID.
• The lived experience of DID is crucial for mental health nursing.

Conclusions:

• Prioritizing lived experiences of DID is essential in mental healthcare.
• Narrative approaches enhance empathetic understanding of DID.
• This research supports improved nursing care and theory development for DID.