Table of ContentsIntroductionAn Overview of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)Treating DID in the CourtroomThe Responsibility of Criminal Justice in cases involving DIDConclusionIntroductionIn the late 1970s, the American public was captivated by this controversial case of Billy Milligan, who made history by becoming the first individual in the United States to be found not guilty of multiple serious crimes, including kidnapping, armed robbery and sexual assault, due to insanity. Milligan's unprecedented legal journey propelled him into the spotlight, his face gracing magazine covers and newspaper front pages from the moment of his arrest and indictment. As his defense team prepared for trial, psychiatrists discovered that Milligan exhibited an astonishing twenty-four distinct personalities, an extremely rare and extreme case of multiple personality disorder. His defense argued that two of these figures were responsible for the crimes, unbeknownst to Milligan himself. This landmark case marked the first successful use of an insanity defense based on a diagnosis of multiple personality disorder, raising difficult questions at the intersection of psychiatry and the legal system. The 1970s were a time when little attention was paid to the disorder, making Milligan's case a catalyst for important discussions surrounding multiple personality disorder, its diagnosis, treatment, and implications within the criminal justice system. This essay will explore the nature of multiple personality disorder, its diagnosis and treatment by psychiatrists, its relevance in the courtroom, and the responsibilities of the criminal justice system in handling cases involving this complex mental illness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayAn overview of dissociative identity disorder (DID)Today, multiple personality disorder is more commonly referred to as the disorder dissociative identity disorder (DID), as defined in the DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). DID is characterized by identity disruption, in which an individual experiences two or more distinct personality states, often resulting from extreme trauma or abuse. Population studies conducted in Europe, North America, and Turkey have found that DID is a relatively common psychiatric disorder, affecting approximately 1–3% of the general population. Diagnosing dissociative identity disorder can be a difficult undertaking. Psychiatrists can observe or patients can report the presence of various symptoms. These symptoms often include a sense of discontinuity in self-identity, marked by changes in behavior, emotions, memory, consciousness, perception, perception of reality, sensorimotor functioning, and frequent errors in memory of daily events. These disruptions often result in significant gaps in memory for important personal information, creating a fragmented sense of self in the patient. Although there are no specific laboratory tests to diagnose DID, doctors can use diagnostic tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to rule out any physical illness or medication-related side effects. In the absence of physical disorders, patients are generally referred to a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychiatric social worker forcomprehensive clinical interview aimed at gaining an in-depth understanding of the patient's past experiences and current functioning. The goals of treatment for DID are multiple. faceted, focused on reducing symptoms, ensuring the safety of the patient and those around them and facilitating the integration of different personalities into a unified and functional identity. Additionally, treatment aims to help patients safely process traumatic memories while equipping them with new coping skills, life skills, and the ability to cultivate healthy relationships. The effectiveness of treatment depends on factors such as patient cooperation, the nature of identifiable triggers, and the severity of their symptoms. Although various treatment modalities exist for DID, psychotherapy is the primary and most widely used approach. It is important to note that there are no medications designed specifically to treat dissociative identity disorders themselves; However, patients with IDD who also have symptoms of anxiety or depression may benefit from treatment with anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications. Patients with IDD generally respond positively to treatment, but the process can be long and demanding. This usually begins with the empowerment and recognition of all personalities, facilitating their integration into a cohesive and fully functioning whole. Treatment of DID in the Courtroom In the field of criminal justice, the treatment of individuals with dissociative identity disorder (DID) poses a complex challenge. , often leading to diverse approaches within the legal system. Two distinct approaches were observed. The first is to grant freedom with mandatory periodic treatment to individuals found not guilty by reason of insanity due to DID, provided that the personality responsible for the criminal act is not the host personality, the true self of the individual. In this scenario, experts assess the mental state of the personality involved, determining whether they were conscious of their actions. The host personality may be considered criminally insane if the personality in question was unaware of his or her actions during the criminal act, as the case of Billy Milligan illustrates. The second approach involves imprisonment or involuntary commitment to a psychiatric facility when a person with IDD is convicted of the charges. This result occurs when the host personality and alternate personalities commit a crime together, as in the case of Thomas Lee Bonney, who was convicted of first-degree murder for the shooting death of his daughter. , I argue that the current insanity test, which focuses on whether the host personality was conscious of or in control of the criminal act, is insufficient. DID represents a unique form of mental disorder, and individuals who suffer from it may be unfairly considered legally insane simply because they lacked consciousness when committing a crime, without implying that the personality of the host is intrinsically unstable. Courts must establish a distinct standard for applying the insanity defense to patients with IDD, one that departs from conventional criteria. Instead, legal liability should be determined based on whether one of the dissociated alter-personalities was unaware of or did not participate in the crime. The court's decision should not be divorced from metaphysical questions of personal identity. In such cases, the courts are required to determine which personality, 21(13-14), 1335-1351.