In the film "Aparichithudu," the protagonist is depicted as having Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), with the narrative focusing on the character's early life trauma—a choice that aligns with research indicating that DID frequently arises from significant childhood adversity, often beginning before the age of six. However, the film's portrayal of DID involves dramatic and rapid state switching, which diverges from the clinical reality. Analytic studies suggest that DID symptoms are generally subtle and covert, characterized more by overlapping and interfering states manifested through inner voices rather than overt and immediate changes in behavior [1].
In the movie, the lead character’s transitions between states occur within seconds and are marked by changes in accent, hairstyle, and identity—elements that are not essential for diagnosing DID or understanding its core phenomenology. While the depiction of these elaborate external characteristics adds dramatic flair, it does not accurately reflect the nuanced nature of the disorder.
Moreover, the film portrays the protagonist’s suicide attempt, which aligns with research linking dissociation with an increased risk of suicidal and self-destructive behaviors. The character’s use of hypnosis in the narrative, intended to manage severe symptoms, is a technique used in clinical practice to help patients modulate their symptoms, but its portrayal may not fully represent its application in real therapeutic settings.
It is crucial to approach media portrayals of psychological disorders, such as DID, with a critical eye and rely on scientific literature for an accurate understanding, rather than accepting the dramatized depictions often presented in films.
Dissociative Identity disorder was previously known as Multiple personality disorder. It is the mental disorder characterized by the presence of at least two varied personalities in one person. DID is a severe condition characterized by a marked discontinuity in the identity of an individual with fragmentation into two or more distinct personality states, which alternately take control of the individual.
CAUSES:
Severe trauma during childhood like sexual abuse, physical abuse and emotional abuse(usually before age 6).
Drug abuse or Substance abuse
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
The individual experiences two or more distinct identities or personality states each of its own pattern of perceiving, relating to, thinking about the self and the world.
The disruption in identity involves a change in sense of self, loss of personal agency, and alterations in the effect, behavior, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition.
Frequent gaps in the memories of personal history, including the distant and recent past as well as everyday events.
Significant distress and impairment in the level of functioning because of the symptoms.
DIAGNOSIS:
The DSM-5 provides the following criteria to diagnose DID:
Two or more distinct identities or personality states are present, each with its own relative pattern of perceiving or thinking or related to environment and self.
Amnesia must occur, defines as gaps in the recall of every day events.
The person must be distressed by the disorder or have trouble functioning in one or more major life areas because of the disorder.
The disturbance is not part of normal culture or religious practices.
The symptoms cannot be due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (chaotic behavior during alcohol intoxication) or a general medical condition (such as complex partial seizures).
TREATMENT:
There is no cure for DID, long term treatment can be helpful, if patient stays committed. Effective treatment includes:
Psychotherapy:
o Also called talk therapy.
o This therapy is designed to work through whatever that triggers DID.
o The goal is to help “fuse “the separate personality traits to one consolidated personality that control the triggers.
o This often includes involving the family members in the therapy.
Hypnotherapy:
o Used in conjunction with Psychotherapy, clinical hypnosis can be used to access the repressed memories, control of some of the problematic behavior that accompanies the DID as well as help to integrate the personalities to one.
Adjunctive therapy:
o Therapies such as art or movement therapy have been shown people to connect with parts of their mind that they have shut off to cope with trauma. Medicines are given for co-occurring problems like anxiety and depression in conjunction with Psychotherapy.
References:
Loewenstein RJ. Dissociation debates: everything you know is wrong. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2018 Sep;20(3):229-242. doi: 10.31887/DCNS.2018.20.3/rloewenstein. PMID: 30581293; PMCID: PMC6296396.
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
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