Multiple Personality Disorder is a mental illness that has been most commonly referred to as Dissociative Disorder or DID in recent years[1]. The commonly dissociated illness of schizophrenia presents a person confronting two or more clearly different personalities who will usually take control at some point. By switching from one personality to another in a matter of seconds, the person will actually believe they have more than one personality. DID can coexist with other illnesses that include a range of anxiety disorders. The causes of DID are not yet proven, but it is believed to have occurred in response to a traumatic childhood experience.[1] The diagnosis is not constructed as a predefined test and therefore the mental health professional is required to test a patient using a mental status examination. The various symptoms of the condition can be treated with a range of treatments from talk therapy to medication, but this does not always improve the outcomes, leading to a chaotic and unbalanced life. Much controversy surrounds DID and is disputed by mental health professionals, with some even believing that it does not exist[1]. Regardless, DID is displayed forcefully throughout the miniseries "Sybil" in which a young emergency teacher ends up with DID in response to horrible childhood memories.[4 ]. There is no proven cause for DID, but it is thought to most likely occur. in response to traumatic events such as childhood upheavals. This process would first see the child traumatized by a caregiver and then later in life having recurring memories of these events which present themselves in the form of different personalities. DID is even thought to be like a shortcut to remembering and coping with terrible...... middle of paper...... personalities. Although no cause is confirmed, it is believed that any traumatic event can lead to DID in adulthood. Through mental state examination, psychologists can begin treating a patient using either psychotherapy methods or hypnosis methods or both, while other alternative methods can also be used if necessary. The symptoms of DID can be serious, but the potential consequences can be even more life-threatening. Today, DID is recognized as a mental illness and it is easier to receive help than in the 19th century. The film Sybil shows how the disease can be treated in a modern context and gives viewers valuable insight into the disease in its entirety. Although the condition can be debilitating and devastating in some people's lives, it is comforting to know that some psychologists believe DID is on the decline.[1] By Leighton Triplow, 2009