This part it finds particularly useful too. Also should mention that dissociation during trauma involves what psychologists call "splitting"....and this "splitting" as a mechanism in itself forms the basis for the dividing off of alternate "selves" or "parts" of the self (i.e., "alters").

One thing you all left out -- understandable as the DSM folks have yet to nail it down (though it seems they use it in the UK already) would be DTD or TPD. DTD stands for "Dissociative Trance Disorder" but its UK name would probably be more accurate, "Trance Possession Disorder". Basically it constitutes a method of subsuming certain things formerly addressed strictly in a spiritual or religious setting/manner into psychology so it can be addressed by psychology instead, since the religious/spiritual milieus have run rife with abuses and unaccountability and outright lies being promulgated as "facts" about this condition. Malady simply calls it "being inhabited". The old world term being, of course, "demonic possession."

Here bes some facts about DTD found under the DD-NOS description in the articles here on PsychCentral:

Dissociative Disorder
Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)

SYMPTOMS

A dissociate disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) is a disorder that includes a dissociative symptom (i.e., a disruption in the usually integrated functions of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment) that does not meet the criteria for any specific Dissociative Disorder. Examples include:

• Clinical presentations similar to Dissociative Identity Disorder that fail to meet full criteria for this disorder. Examples include presentations in which a) there are not two or more distinct personality states, or b) amnesia for important personal information does not occur.
• Derealization unaccompanied by depersonalization in adults.
• States of dissociation that occur in individuals who have been subjected to periods of prolonged and intense coercive persuasion (e.g., brainwashing, thought reform, or indoctrination while captive).
• Dissociative trance disorder: single or episodic disturbances in the state of consciousness, identity, or memory that are indigenous to particular locations and cultures. Dissociative trance involves narrowing of awareness of immediate surroundings or stereotyped behaviors or movements that are experienced as being beyond one's control. Possession trance involves replacement of the customary sense of personal identity by a new identity, attributed to the influence of a spirit, power, deity, or other person, and associated with stereotyped "involuntary" movements or amnesia. Examples include amok (Indonesia), bebainan (Indonesia), latah (Malaysia), pibloktoq (Arctic), ataque de nervios (Latin America), and possession (India). The dissociative or trance disorder is not a normal part of a broadly accepted collective cultural or religious practice. (See p. 727 for suggested research criteria.)

Full article: http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx99.htm

On that last point -- in other words, if you came from a Voudon family and experienced chevalier (being "mounted by the loa") during ritual, this would not qualify as DTD because (a) it happens in a controlled setting; (b) it has a specific limited duration; and most importantly, (c) it constitutes a NORMAL and ACCEPTED part of religious experience in Voudon culture.

As seen by the above criteria, people with DDNOS and/or DTD can still present experiences symptomatic of (or similar to) DID, but with a few key differentials altering the Dx.

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Here bes an excerpt from the UK's online paper describing TPD (Trance Possession Disorder, same as DTD in the States). This one has probably the BEST (most clear, concise and ACCURATE) symptom list out there for DTD/TPD. (Malady has every symptom listed there so it KNOWS! ). Of course, being psych and not spiritual/religious, they leave out certain key spiritual or metaphysical components to the condition which show up most frequently during "combat mode", such as automatically knowing others' thoughts, motives, and secret "sins"; being able to tap into others' moral and emotional weaknesses and speak to these directly as if "from inside" them; various psychic phenoms like clairvoyance, clairaudience, telepathy, etc.; marked involuntary physical aversion to anything associated with or symbolic/representative of, whatever forces would be perceived as oppositional in alignment to those inhabiting (yeah, going catatonic near churches qualifies ... LOL); et.c.

OK excerpts:

Trance and Possession Disorder

Possession trance is characterized by a transient alteration in identity whereby one's normal identity is temporarily replaced (possessed) by a spirit, ghost, deity, or other person. The experience of being "possessed" by another entity, such as a person, god, demon, animal, or inanimate object, holds different meanings in different cultures and therefore the diagnosis for this disorder may be culturally bound. While possession is a common experience in many cultures, in Western industrialized cultures, such experiences are not the norm.



Associated Features:
Subjects often complained of a variety of associated symptoms:

• Loss of control over one's actions.
• Behavior change or acting differently.
• Loss of awareness of surroundings.
• Loss of personal identity.
  
• Difficulty distinguishing reality from fantasy at the time of the possession.
• Change in tone of voice.
• Wandering attention.
• Trouble concentrating.
• Loss of sense of time.
• Loss of memory.
• Belief that one's body changed in appearance.
  

Cause:
This condition is multifactorial, in which spiritual, social, psychological and physical factors may all play an aetioIogical role. It is also commonly accepted that dissociative identity disorders have their aetiology in an early history of repeated trauma and abuse, often to horrific degrees. However, as yet, there are no biological theories concerning the origin of these disorders. Therefore, besides screening for common medical and psychiatric conditions, the clinician should also examine the particular cultural context in which the patient presents.


Treatment:
A consideration in the treatment of Trance and Possession Disorder is determining whether the person is in the midst of an episode of mental disorder or having a spiritual problem. Therefore treatment currently revoles around assistance to cope with the physical aspects of possession.


Counseling and Psychotherapy:
Supportive therapy and psychotherapy may be helpful in certain situations. Family therapy is often helpful to assist relatives in coping with the affected individual. Behavioral techniques used in a therapeutic setting, or in the home can help a person learn behaviors that will lead to social acceptance.

Full paper here: http://www.psychnet-uk.com/dsm_iv/tr...n_disorder.htm