Is Multiple Personality Disorder Hereditary?

The Dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder, is a complex psychological disorder caused by multiple factors. It is one of the most talked about disorders, and has generated debate and criticism. In recent years there has been an increase in the number of cases, but there are many professionals who remain skeptical. In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about whether multiple personality disorder is hereditary.

Index

1. What is multiple personality disorder?
2. Multiple personality disorder is NOT inherited
3. Symptoms of dissociative identity disorder
4. Causes of multiple personality disorder

Many of us experience mild dissociations when we dream or miss a moment while we are working... However, the Multiple personality disorderis a serious form of dissociation because it is a lack of connection between the person's thoughts, memories, feelings, and actions. Patients with this disorder develop one or more alternating personalities.

Dissociative identity disorder is one of the so-called dissociative disorders. They are a set of mental disorders that entail memory disruptions or failures, consciousness, identity and / or perception. When one or more of these functions are disturbed, dissociative symptoms can appear.

The disorder can occur in a mild or severe way, to the point that the symptoms interfere with the general functioning of the person, either in the personal or work environment.

Nowadays no known genetic factors related to this disorder, although it can run repeatedly in families. Genetic studies show conflicting results. A study involving monozygotic and dizygotic twins concludes that heritability does not appear to have any effect on this disorder.

On the other hand, a study suggests the presence of a certain genetic effect, but it must be taken into account note that this research focused on dissociation without differentiating between pathological and non-pathological pathological. Because of this, more research is needed to determine whether the genetic tendency to experience dissociation varies depending on whether it is pathological (multiple personality disorder) or not.

Therefore, many experts argue that, at the moment, the data indicates that multiple personality disorder is NOT inherited. If an adult has multiple personality disorder, her children are no more likely to develop the disorder than any other child. The best way to predict this is the presence of a trauma in the person's life, it is common for the disorder to develop after a traumatic experience: serious accident, robbery, etc.

A person with multiple personality disorder has two or more different personalities, the “main” personality of the person, and those known as “alter”. The person may experience amnesia when an alter takes control over the person's behavior.

Each alter has distinctive traits, a personal history, and a mindset. Person may not be aware memories or other personalities when an alter is in control. Stress, or even the memory of a trauma, can trigger a personality change.

In some cases, the disorder creates chaos in the life of the person, and causes problems in personal and professional relationships. For example, a woman may meet people who seem to know her, but she is not able to recognize or remember them, or she may find things in her house that she does not remember buying.

Dissociative identity disorder has many psychological symptoms that can be found in other mental disorders, including:

• Change in operating levels - can range from very high to very low
• Headaches or aches in other parts of the body
• Depersonalization: disconnection from one's own thoughts, feelings, and even from the body
• Derealization: the environment becomes strange, unfamiliar, or unreal
• Depression or mood swings
• Anxiety
• Eating and sleeping disorders
• Problems in sexual functioning
• Substance abuse
• Amnesia
• Hallucinations - for example, hearing voices
• Self-inflicted damage
• Suicide risk: 70% of people with dissociative identity disorder have attempted suicide.

Although the specific causes of multiple personality disorder are not known, the psychological theory is predominant that the disorder develops as a reaction to childhood trauma. People with this disorder often have very hard life histories with recurrent and strong trauma that puts their lives at risk, such as sexual and / or physical abuse before the age of 9.

In some cases it is related to extreme neglect or emotional abuse, even without any type of abuse having occurred. It has also been linked to a natural disaster, such as war. Research shows that parents who are scary and unpredictable (disorganized attachment style) tend to raise children with dissociative identity disorder.

Some experts propose 3 factors that could increase the chance of developing the disorder:

• BiologicallySome people are more prone to dissociation, or they may have organic brain problems that make it difficult for them to integrate their experiences.
• The brain of a child it is more immature than that of an adult, and can make it more susceptible to developing the disorder because her self-awareness and self-concept are not yet cohesive, they are developing. Therefore, it is more difficult for them to face and integrate traumatic experiences, that is, the smaller the child experiencing trauma, the greater the likelihood of developing dissociative disorder of identity.
• Children with lack of emotional and social support they are more likely to develop trauma-related disorders. Growing up in a toxic or neglectful family without support to cope with situations and feelings difficult, increases the likelihood that the child will use dissociation as a way to cope with the trauma. Traumatic events increase the likelihood of dissociation.

Dissociation is usually understood as a mechanism that the person uses to disconnect from stressful or traumatic situations, or to distance himself from traumatic memories. It is a way of breaking the connection with the outside world and create a distance from what is happening. It can serve as a defense mechanism against physical and emotional pain caused by the stressful or traumatic situation. In this way, the person can maintain levels of functioning considered "normal", as if the trauma had not occurred.

Therefore, for the moment the research speaks of two main factors that lead to multiple personality disorder, trauma, and disorganized attachment.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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