The condition can arise when a child dissociates as a defense mechanism to escape an intolerable reality.Įxperts believe several factors play a role in the development of schizophrenia. An estimated 90% of people with DID have a history of neglect or abuse. Most people with DID have a history of severe childhood trauma. Neither condition has one definitive cause, but DID is associated with trauma while schizophrenia is more often associated with having certain genes. While some symptoms do overlap between DID and schizophrenia, they are different in important ways, including their causes, treatments, and age of onset. The Sidran Institute says that, although these personalities may feel or appear different, “They’re all manifestations of a single, whole person.” Many people inaccurately believe that people with schizophrenia have “split personalities.” This isn’t the case. There are a lot of misconceptions surrounding both DID and schizophrenia.
