Shedding Light on Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Global Conference Breaks Barriers
February 3, 2025
Last September, mental health professionals from around the world gathered virtually for a groundbreaking event: Stronger Together: Dissociative Identity Disorder Past, Present, and Future.
Hosted by McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School Continuing Education, the conference offered a deep dive into dissociative identity disorder (DID)—a condition often clouded by misunderstanding, misdiagnosis, and sensationalism.
Over the course of four days, participants explored the intricacies of a psychiatric condition that affects over 1% of the global population but is rarely understood, even within the mental health community.
DID has often been reduced to caricature in popular culture, depicted as “multiple personality disorder” with exaggerated portrayals of split identities. This event sought to dismantle those myths and build a foundation of knowledge grounded in science and compassion.
“DID is a hidden and complex condition,” explained Milissa Kaufman, MD, PhD, a key organizer of the conference and a leading expert in trauma research. “It requires specialized training to diagnose, and even experienced clinicians sometimes mistake it for PTSD or other disorders. That’s why creating this space for education and dialogue was so critical.”
The conference tackled pressing issues, including the link between child sex trafficking and DID, the unique challenges faced by transgender and gender-diverse individuals with trauma histories, and the potential of neuroimaging to revolutionize therapeutic approaches.
“For far too long, individuals with DID have been invisible to the mental health world,” said Adriana M. Bobinchock, chief of staff at McLean Hospital, who spoke about collaborating with McLean’s clinical teams and individuals with lived experience to increase awareness about DID through the hospital’s Deconstructing Stigma campaign. “Hearing their stories in their own voices was profoundly moving and necessary.”
Bobinchock also announced Kaufman, who has recovered from DID, has chosen to share her story publicly as part of McLean’s Deconstructing Stigma campaign. Her decision to participate in this international effort to reduce the stigma around mental health marks a significant moment of advocacy and empowerment for the DID community.
Bethany Brand, PhD, whose pioneering work on the Treatment of Patients with Dissociative Disorders (TOP DD) studies has shaped much of the current understanding of DID, underscored the significance of the event.
“There’s still so much we don’t know about how individuals with dissociative disorders respond to treatment,” Brand noted. “This conference was a vital step toward closing those gaps and improving care.”
The atmosphere was one of collaboration and shared purpose, as attendees discussed the future of trauma-informed care and innovative treatments. By the time the event concluded, participants left with not only a deeper understanding of DID but also a renewed commitment to addressing the stigma that surrounds it.
Through events like Stronger Together, the mental health field is slowly shifting its approach to DID—one that prioritizes education, empathy, and evidence-based care. While the road ahead remains challenging, the voices amplified during this conference remind us of the profound impact understanding and advocacy can have on those living with this condition.
