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Split personality disorder is defined by the presence of two or more distinct, and in some cases, radically different personalities within one person. This was previously known as the multiple personality disorder, and is now known as the dissociative personality disorder and a split personality disorder in general terms. An individual suffering from this disorder is known to be overpowered by one of these personalities at different times where the behavior exhibited by the person may be different at one time of the day, than at another. Also, socially these persons may manifest different relationships depending on the personality type that is prevalent at that time. The belief regarding the existence such a disorder is still questionable, as some find it hard to believe that one person can exhibit such different personalities at different times. However, it has been seen in several people, who tend to exhibit certain split personality symptoms, the most prominent one of which is the presence of high moral values in the primary personality, with a vast difference in values in the sub-personalities. While this may not necessarily be the case with every sufferer of this personality disorder, it has been noticed in several cases. A person suffering from the split personality disorder may have more than two personalities residing within her/him. As the triggers or the situations that bring about a switch in the personalities are experienced, another personality type comes to the fore.

What causes these dissociative identity disorder symptoms? The causes of this condition have been narrowed down to being a result of extremely traumatic incidents experienced during childhood, such as child abuse from which one did not recover, very poor self esteem, or heredity. Those who have had such experiences are considered to have developed the multiple personality disorder as a mechanism of denial of reality and the acceptance of it. As such, the various split personality problems and symptoms begin to come to the fore, and have been explained here.

Split Personality Disorder Symptoms

Those who suffer from a split personality disorder, usually are unable to associate the relevance of certain events in their life. This is because when the sub-personality becomes prevalent, the primary personality is unaware of the events that occur in relation to the sub-personality. It can be said that one personality type goes into a kind of slumber or a trance-like state, that has been described by many as an 'out of body' experience, when the other is prevalent. This leads to the development of the following split personality disorder symptoms:

A person with this disorder is bound to experience significant memory lapses to the point of amnesia, that are related to important events, such as birthday of a loved one, etc.

They tend to find things in their ownership, even though they are unable to remember where those things came from, or how they have been acquired.

They tend to experience different types of emotional states and mood swings, ranging from depression to a state of elation.

Visual and auditory hallucinations are common to those who suffer from the split personality disorder. They are able to hear voices inside their head, which they are quite sure, are not their own.

Because of the perpetual trance they are in, they feel like spectators of their own lives, rather than experiencing any events themselves.

Confusion is an obvious symptom of the split personality disorder, because of the lack of self-association with the various events that one is going through.

Those with this condition are likely to suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia.

Sudden flashbacks of the past, incessant headaches, bouts of aggression and violence, and frustration, are other symptoms that define a split personality.

Further symptoms of this condition include drug and alcohol abuse, and traits of an obsessive compulsive disorder. They feel like they are compelled to do things they would otherwise never indulge in, or find repulsive.