Where is DID now?

Q: Where is Dissociative Identity Disorder now? There was a good deal written about DID in the 1980s and 1990s, then it seemed to die down, and in the last few years, there seems to have been a resurgence, at least in mainstream venues. - Craig

A: I don't think "DID" faded away, it just got divided into subparts: trauma and dissociation. For example, the main organization and journal concerning MPD has changed names numerous times over the years. In 1984 the first major conference on MPD was held in Chicago by the International Society for the Study of Multiple Personality and
Dissociation (ISSMP&D; Journal="Dissociation"). This society continued, and in 1994 was renamed the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD; Journal:"Journal of Trauma and Dissociation"). In 2006 it changed to the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD; Journal unchanged).

Nay-sayers have nothing to lose; but those who support the validity of the diagnosis and even dare to treat those who have the disorder face ridicule from peers, scrutiny from insurance companies, and threats of lawsuits from supporters of the False Memory camp. I have known people who have lost careers and the custody of their children because of the DID diagnosis - not because of their actions but because of fear and misunderstanding from employers and the court system. It may be hard to find supporters willing to go public with their belief or even with their own personal history of DID, but that isn't the same as there being no supporters. There is still a strong curtain of silence, shame, and fear.