Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Review of Research From 2011 to 2021

Area of Science:

• Psychopathology
• Trauma Studies
• Dissociative Disorders

Background:

• Dissociative identity disorder (DID) remains a controversial topic in psychopathology.
• This review builds upon prior research from 2000-2010, focusing on empirical studies and case studies from 2011-2021.
• The review aims to synthesize current research trends and identify methodological challenges in the field.

Approach:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted for empirical studies and case reports on DID published between 2011 and 2021.
• Data on sample size, case origin, diagnostic methods, and research group contributions were extracted and analyzed.
• The review synthesizes findings from 56 case studies and 104 empirical studies, encompassing approximately 1354 new cases.

Key Points:

• Research on dissociative identity disorder (DID) shows consistent output, with a significant number of new cases identified.
• The majority of reported cases originated from Western countries, particularly the United States.
• While diagnosis often utilized validated measures, a substantial portion of new cases were linked to a small number of research groups (74%).
• Reanalysis of existing samples was common, with only 40% of reported cases being entirely new.

Conclusions:

• Empirical research on dissociative identity disorder (DID) is ongoing but faces significant methodological limitations.
• The concentration of cases within a few research groups and geographical areas restricts the generalizability of findings.
• Further research is needed to address methodological constraints and enhance understanding of the etiology of DID.