Polyfragmentation

CW: Mentions of incest and ritual abuse.

Polyfragmentation is a form of DID that often (but not necessarily) involves over one hundred DID personality states and is likely to be the result of ritual abuse or other forms of extreme sadistic abuse that extends over a long period and often involves multiple perpetrators, such as cults or institutional abuse⁴. Polyfragmentation is a notoriously under-documented phenomenon associated with DID/OSDD, with very few scientific papers published on the topic. This page will attempt to display what we do know about polyfragmentation insofar as research goes. The few papers on the topic usually have been written 20-30 years ago, so some sources will use outdated terms and language.

In a study¹⁷ done by researchers in 1990, it was noted that:

"Experience indicates that the more severe and/or ritualistic the abuse suffered as a child, the more fragmented is the adult patient’s personality and thinking...Severity and the ritual nature of abuse has a significant causative relationship with polyfragmentation in ADD [Atypical Dissociative Disorder] and/or in MPD [Multiple Personality Disorder]. Ritual, satanic abuse is usually administered by parents and other family cult members...Incestuous abuse is not necessarily related to the most severe, polyfragmented forms of MPD; however, ritual abuse, with or without incest, is the most common underlying cause of polyfragmentation for MPD or dissociative disorders NOS [Not Otherwise Specified]."

A study¹⁸ done in 1988 noted that the degree of conflict, rather than the number of identities, determined the level of pathology and the ability to function. In individuals with many identities, each identity spent less time in open manifestation. Polyfragmented patients presented little of the classical symptomology of Dissociative Identity Disorder, such as overt switching and clearly defined identities.

Note: This research may or may not be outdated, but we felt that it was still helpful to include the history of research into polyfragmentation and share information regarding what researchers believed about polyfragmentation.

Currently, there is one¹⁹ existing empirical measure of integration versus fragmentation in a person with DID. There are clinician and patient reports describing degrees and components of integration qualitatively, but few use the same vocabulary and almost none use the same scale. None have attempted to quantify integration. There is no agreed empirical measure of what qualifies as polyfragmentation in a system, but some researchers are hopeful that new measures can be developed and standardized.