Multiple personality disorder is a mental illness that in recent years has been more commonly called dissociative disorder or DID[1]. The disease commonly dissociated from schizophrenia finds a person experiencing two or more clearly different personalities that, out of habit, will at some point take control. 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 occur in conjunction with other illnesses that include a number of anxiety disorders. The causes of DID have not yet been proven but it is thought to have occurred in response to a traumatic childhood experience[1]. The diagnosis is not structured as a set test and therefore the mental health professional is required to test a patient using a mental status exam. The various symptoms of the disease can be treated through a variety of treatments ranging from talk therapy to medications, but this does not always mitigate the outcomes that lead to a chaotic and unbalanced life. A great deal of controversy surrounds DID and is disputed by mental health professionals, some even believing it does not exist[1]. In any case, DID is powerfully displayed throughout the miniseries "Sybil" in which a young emergency teacher finds herself with DID in response to horrific childhood memories[4]. There are no proven causes for DID, but it is thought to most likely occur. as a reaction to traumatic events such as childhood upheavals. This process would see the child initially traumatized by a caregiver and then later in life have recurring memories of these events which present themselves in the form of different personalities. It's even thought that DID is like a shortcut to remembering and dealing with terrible personalities... middle of paper... personalities. Although the causes have not been confirmed, it is believed that a traumatic event of some kind can lead to DID in adulthood. Using mental state examination, psychologists can begin to treat a patient using psychotherapy or hypnosis methods or even both, while other alternative methods can also be used if necessary. The symptoms of DID can be severe, but the outcomes can be even more life-threatening. Today, DID is recognized as a mental illness and it is easier to get help than in the 19th century. The film Sybil shows how the disease can be cured in the modern context and gives viewers a comprehensive view of the disorder. While the disease can be debilitating and devastating in some people's lives, it is comforting to know that some psychologists believe DID is in decline[1]. By Leighton Triplow, 2009