In patients with dual personality disorder, two identities or personality traits exist. The patient’s own behaviour is controlled by the switched identity, and this control can be in the form of alternating states, or interfering or overlapping personalities. There is a disintegration of the patient’s identity in 2 distinct personality states, and this disintegration gives the patient a distinct sense of self, and a disruption of the patient’s sense of self-control, and the disruption of the patient’s sense of self-control is accompanied by associated changes in the patient’s emotions, behaviour, consciousness, and memory.
In addition, there are often recurrent gaps in the patient’s memory when recalling everyday events. Patients can experience distress as a result of these symptoms or suffer impairment in social, occupational or other important functions as a result.