multiple personality disorder

noun

variants or less commonly multiple personality

: a personality disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct and complex identities or personality states each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others and results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : dissociative identity disorder

Note: The term dissociative identity disorder is now preferred over multiple personality disorder and multiple personality especially in medical contexts.

Examples of multiple personality disorder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In director Joe Lynch's body-swap horror movie Suitable Flesh, Heather Graham plays psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Derby, who initially concludes that her new patient (Judah Lewis) is suffering from multiple personality disorder. —Clark Collis, EW.com, 9 June 2023

Schizophrenia was the most common diagnosis (25 students), followed by multiple personality disorder (three). —Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2014

Dissociative identity disorder used to be called multiple personality disorder. —Maureen Maher, CBS News, 22 July 2021

Following the death of his father, Aaron checked himself into rehab, where physicians diagnosed him with schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder. —Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2023

Angel Carter Talks Breaking 'Generational Dysfunction' with Mental Health After Twin Brother Aaron's Death Following the death of his father, Aaron checked himself into rehab where physicians diagnosed him with schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 9 Aug. 2023

Sullivan is a character loosely based on Billy Milligan, who was the first person to successfully use multiple personality disorder as a defense in court. —Christopher Brito, CBS News, 8 June 2023

The Canadian philosopher Ian Hacking, who died May 10, found new things to say about the reality of everything from multiple personality disorder to race to electrons. —Oliver Traldi, Washington Examiner, 1 June 2023

The sister has schizophrenia and bipolar and multiple personality disorders. —Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1972, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

multiple personality disorder

noun

: a personality disorder that is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct and complex identities or personality states each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the others and results from disruption in the integrated functions of consciousness, memory, and identity : dissociative identity disorder

Note: The term dissociative identity disorder is now preferred over multiple personality disorder especially in medical contexts.

—abbreviation MPD