Dissociative Identity Disorder
Consideration is now being given to including possession experiences within dissociative identity disorder (DID) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), which is due to be published in 2013.
Dissociative trance disorder, which includes possession experiences, was introduced as a provisional diagnosis requiring further study in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.).
According to, Stefano Ferracuti and Roberto Sacco, these supposed 'demonic possessions' are not due to demons inhabiting the persons body but due to a psychological disorder known as Dissociative Trance Disorder or Possession Disorder.
The researchers carried out an investigation on ten people undergoing exorcisms for demonic possessions. They measured their state with the Dissociative Disorders Diagnostic Schedule and the Rorschach test.
Based on the measure used, most had severe impairment of reality testing, and 6 of the participants had an extratensive (showing a predominance of color responses on the Rorschach test and characterized by the urge to live in the world outside oneself and by unstable affective reactions) coping style.
These persons had many traits in common with dissociative identity disorder patients. They were overwhelmed by paranormal experiences. Despite claiming possession by a demon, most of them managed to maintain normal social functioning.
Rorschach findings showed that these persons had a complex personality organization. Some of them displayed a tendency to oversimplify stimulus perception whereas others seemed more committed to psychological complexity.
The criteria for this disorder is the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states, each with its own way of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and the self; at least two of these personalities or identities recurrently take control of the individual's behavior; and an inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be dismissed as ordinary forgetfulness.
The separate identities and the physical changes that are involved in this disorder closely mirror the changes that take place in those that are thought to be victims of demonic possessions.
The following are symptoms experienced by DTD sufferers:
Dissociative Identity Disorder is characterized by "switching" to alternate identities when under stress. Those that suffer from DID may feel the presence of one or more other people talking or living inside them.
Each of these identities may have a unique name, personal history and characteristics, including obvious differences in voice, gender, mannerisms and physical qualities. There also are differences in how familiar each identity is with the others.
(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dissociative-disorders/DS00574/DSECTION=symptoms)
The video below was written and directed by Trevor Sands and it gives us a glimpse of what goes on inside the mind of a person suffering from dissociative identity disorder ( a disorder that shares many similarities with those that have dissociative trance disorder).
Dissociative trance disorder, which includes possession experiences, was introduced as a provisional diagnosis requiring further study in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.).
According to, Stefano Ferracuti and Roberto Sacco, these supposed 'demonic possessions' are not due to demons inhabiting the persons body but due to a psychological disorder known as Dissociative Trance Disorder or Possession Disorder.
The researchers carried out an investigation on ten people undergoing exorcisms for demonic possessions. They measured their state with the Dissociative Disorders Diagnostic Schedule and the Rorschach test.
Based on the measure used, most had severe impairment of reality testing, and 6 of the participants had an extratensive (showing a predominance of color responses on the Rorschach test and characterized by the urge to live in the world outside oneself and by unstable affective reactions) coping style.
These persons had many traits in common with dissociative identity disorder patients. They were overwhelmed by paranormal experiences. Despite claiming possession by a demon, most of them managed to maintain normal social functioning.
Rorschach findings showed that these persons had a complex personality organization. Some of them displayed a tendency to oversimplify stimulus perception whereas others seemed more committed to psychological complexity.
The criteria for this disorder is the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states, each with its own way of perceiving, relating to, and thinking about the environment and the self; at least two of these personalities or identities recurrently take control of the individual's behavior; and an inability to recall important personal information that is too extensive to be dismissed as ordinary forgetfulness.
The separate identities and the physical changes that are involved in this disorder closely mirror the changes that take place in those that are thought to be victims of demonic possessions.
The following are symptoms experienced by DTD sufferers:
- Memory loss (amnesia) of certain time periods, events and people
- Mental health problems, including depression and anxiety
- A sense of being detached from yourself (depersonalization)
- A perception of the people and things around you as distorted and unreal (derealization)
- A blurred sense of identity
- Motor activities including eye rolling and pseudoseizures
Dissociative Identity Disorder is characterized by "switching" to alternate identities when under stress. Those that suffer from DID may feel the presence of one or more other people talking or living inside them.
Each of these identities may have a unique name, personal history and characteristics, including obvious differences in voice, gender, mannerisms and physical qualities. There also are differences in how familiar each identity is with the others.
(http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/dissociative-disorders/DS00574/DSECTION=symptoms)
The video below was written and directed by Trevor Sands and it gives us a glimpse of what goes on inside the mind of a person suffering from dissociative identity disorder ( a disorder that shares many similarities with those that have dissociative trance disorder).
A demon in someone who is possessed has is believed to have its own unique personality. These different personalities have different purposes, motivations, attitudes, mannerisms, even its own style of speech, and a different voice. This is quite comparable to the manifestation of multiple personalities, each unique from the other, in an individual with dissociative identity disorder.
Also, an individual who suffers from demonic possession may not be able to recall the periods of time in which the demon manifests itself, resulting in blackouts and time loss. Individuals who are reported to be possessed by a demon show strong resemblances to motor activities to those suffering from dissociative identity disorder such as eye rolling and pseudoseizures.
These are all the same for individuals who believe they possessed.
A research study by Spiegel, Loewenstein, Lewis- Fernandez, et al., 2011 concludes their recommendation of Dissociative Trance Disorder being included in the
Unspecified Dissociative Disorder (UDD) category of the DSM - V. This paper reviews clinical, phenomenological, epidemiological, cultural, and neurobiological data related to the Dissociative Disorders in order to generate an evidence-based set of diagnoses for DSM-5.
Therefore, there is a growing body of evidence linking dissociative disorders to demonic possessions.
Also, an individual who suffers from demonic possession may not be able to recall the periods of time in which the demon manifests itself, resulting in blackouts and time loss. Individuals who are reported to be possessed by a demon show strong resemblances to motor activities to those suffering from dissociative identity disorder such as eye rolling and pseudoseizures.
These are all the same for individuals who believe they possessed.
A research study by Spiegel, Loewenstein, Lewis- Fernandez, et al., 2011 concludes their recommendation of Dissociative Trance Disorder being included in the
Unspecified Dissociative Disorder (UDD) category of the DSM - V. This paper reviews clinical, phenomenological, epidemiological, cultural, and neurobiological data related to the Dissociative Disorders in order to generate an evidence-based set of diagnoses for DSM-5.
Therefore, there is a growing body of evidence linking dissociative disorders to demonic possessions.