Identity alteration
Identity alterationDefined as "objective behaviors that are manifestations of the assumption of different identities or ego states"{{Rp|14}} within DID, also known as "switching". The structured clinical interview for the dissociative disorders and other diagnostic tools assess identity alteration. {{See also| Identity alteration}} {{See also| Diagnosis}} is defined as "objective behaviors that are manifestations of the assumption of different identities or ego"the notion of a being who both thinks and acts". Feeling is also a characteristics of the ego. (van der Hart & Horst (1989){{Rp|2}}) Ego states is a term sometimes used to refer to several different identities within a person with Dissociative Identity Disorder, i.e., several different dissociative parts of the personality, each with his/her own sense of "me". states" [1]:14 Within dissociative identity disorder it is often called "switching".
Indicators of identity alterationDefined as "objective behaviors that are manifestations of the assumption of different identities or ego states"{{Rp|14}} within DID, also known as "switching". The structured clinical interview for the dissociative disorders and other diagnostic tools assess identity alteration. {{See also| Identity alteration}} {{See also| Diagnosis}}
Common indicators of identity alteration include:
- referring to oneself by different names
- observing that one has a learned skills for which one cannot account
- discovering items in one's possession that one is unaware of having acquired
- people calling a person by an incorrect name or a person being told by others that he/she is acting like a completely different person
- the person may also refer to himself/herself as "we"
- Severe mood changes (especially if accompanied by amnesia) and change of voice cues may also indicate identity alteration. [1]:14
Identity alteration will occur with at least some amnesia in dissociative identity disorder.
Link to psychiatric diagnosis
Moderate to severe identity alteration is present in dissociative identity disorder and some forms of other specified dissociative disorder.[1]:15 but is not the sole criteria for diagnosis.[2] Mild identity alteration can indicate a psychiatric diagnosis which is not a dissociative disorder, or a personality disorder.[1]:16
The structured clinical interview for the dissociative disorders assesses identity alteration. Indicators are also present in screening tools such as the Dissociative Experiences Scale.
