Diagnosing dissociative identity disorder can be challenging because the condition often involves a wide range of symptoms that overlap with other mental health disorders. In addition, DID often co-occurs with other mental health conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, or eating disorders. A comprehensive clinical assessment, including a detailed medical and psychiatric history, psychological testing, and observation of the individual's behavior and cognition, is typically necessary to establish a diagnosis based on the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).
Psychotherapy approaches commonly used in the treatment of DID vary based on individual needs but can include:
Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT helps people with DID process and integrate their traumatic experiences by combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with a focus on better understanding trauma-related memories and emotions.
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). DBT encourages patients to develop skills to regulate their emotions, improve interpersonal relationships, and increase their ability to tolerate feelings of distress.
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR uses rapid eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation to help people with DID reprocess and integrate traumatic memories.
Hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy can be used to help people access and explore their different identities, facilitate communication and cooperation between them, and promote the development of a more cohesive sense of self.
Medication may be prescribed to address co-occurring conditions, such as depression or anxiety. However, there are no medications that have been specifically approved for the treatment of dissociative identity disorder.