DISORDER TERMS PAGE 2
MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER
(MPD)
I have provided a list of terms that I hope will help
those who are not familiar with MPD to understand
our "lingo."
The terms seen below may change from one system (or
person) to the next.
l DID--Dissociative Identity Disorder. This is
used in the DSM 4 as a new term for Multiple
Personality Disorder/DID.
2 MPD--This is the abbreviation for Multiple
Personality Disorder.
3 Alters--This is the term most therapists use for
the personalities in the Multiple.
4 Birth Person--This is the original person, whose
name appears on the birth certificate. This is the
creator of the other personalities or alters.
5 Dissociator--This too is the birth person, the
one that dissociates as a measure of self protection.
6 Abuse--The willful act of harm on a child such
as physical, sexual, emotional, ritual, Satanic ritual.
7 Littles--This is the term for child alters that
many people like to use.
8 Bigs--This is term for the adult alters.
9 Teens--Refers to the teenage alters. Other
people will either refer to them as a Little or a
Big.
l0 Integration--This is the coming together of the
alters into one person. This often happens when the
issues that caused the multiplicity is resolved.
11 Co-Consious--The act of more than one personality
being aware of the outside world, results in the lack
of loss of time.
l2 Time Loss--When an alter has exclusive control
of the body, others are unaware of the actions that occur.
Understanding Dissociative Disorders
Through Dissociative Signs and Symptoms
Note: this is only a brief list to give the reader an overview of
dissociative symptoms it is written by
Cecili Pearson (c) 1991.
Autohypnotic Symptoms
(Manifested by High Hypnotizability)
* Spontaneous trances
* Enthrallment
* Spontaneous age regression
* Negative hallucinations
* Voluntary anesthesia
* Out-of-body experiences
* Trance logic
* Eye roll and switching
PTSD Symptoms
* Psychological trauma
* Intrusive/imagery/revivification/flashbacks
* Nightmares
* Reactivity to triggers/panic/anxiety
* Hyperarousal/startle response
* Numbing/avoidance/detachment
Somatoform* Symptoms
* Conversion symptoms
* Pseudoseizures
* Somatoform pain symptoms
* Somatization disorder/Briquet's syndrome
* Somatic memory
*Editors note: somotoform disorder: A mental disorder in
which the physical symptoms suggest a general medical condition
and are not explained by another condition such as a medication
or another mental disorder. The symptoms must be clinically
significant enough to impair function.
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary.
