The Relationship Between Early Maladaptive Schemas and Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Literature Review

Understanding individuals requires a comprehensive understanding of their personality structures, which may not always develop consistently or healthily due to negative events, stressful situations, and trauma. These experiences can leave deep scars, which, if permanent, can lead to personality disorders. Such disorders affect individuals’ thoughts, behaviors, and relationships, resulting in impairments that extend beyond cognitive processes, impacting perception, thought formation, consciousness, memory, and identity. These disruptions may trigger dissociation, which can cause the separation of personality aspects. In some cases, multiple alternate personalities or “alters” may emerge, helping explain the development of Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). The formation of early maladaptive schemas plays a crucial role in shaping an individual’s personality. These schemas, which arise from childhood trauma and family dynamics, influence how a person perceives themselves, others, and the world. The similarity between the origins of these maladaptive schemas and the factors contributing to DID underscores the importance of examining the connection. This study aims to explore this relationship by reviewing national and international literature. Existing studies indicate a relationship between early maladaptive schemas and DID. Additionally, thematic analysis  -a qualitative method employed in this study to systematically synthesize relevant literature- was discussed, emphasizing its suitability for investigating complex psychological constructs like maladaptive schemas and dissociative disorders. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of addressing these negative schemas to prevent DID and support early intervention efforts. Ultimately, findings are expected to shed light on key aspects of this issue and guide future research.