A 19-year-old suddenly becomes another personality with different behavior patterns. This is most consistent with which condition?

A 19-year-old suddenly becomes another personality with different behavior patterns. This is most consistent with which condition?

• A. Schizophrenia
• B. Dissociative disorder
• C. Depersonalization disorder
• D. Depression.

Answer: (B)

Dissociation presenting as multiple identities is what this scenario shows. In dissociative identity disorder, a person exhibits two or more distinct identities that take control of behavior, often with gaps in memory for everyday events or important personal information. The abrupt shift to a different personality with its own patterns of behavior fits this pattern, especially in someone in late adolescence or early adulthood who may have a trauma history. This isn’t matching schizophrenia, which centers on persistent psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations rather than distinct identity states. It isn’t depersonalization, which involves feeling detached from oneself or reality rather than taking on another identity. It isn’t depression, which involves mood disturbance without alternate identities.

Dissociation presenting as multiple identities is what this scenario shows. In dissociative identity disorder, a person exhibits two or more distinct identities that take control of behavior, often with gaps in memory for everyday events or important personal information. The abrupt shift to a different personality with its own patterns of behavior fits this pattern, especially in someone in late adolescence or early adulthood who may have a trauma history. This isn’t matching schizophrenia, which centers on persistent psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations rather than distinct identity states. It isn’t depersonalization, which involves feeling detached from oneself or reality rather than taking on another identity. It isn’t depression, which involves mood disturbance without alternate identities.