Dissociative Identity Disorder is the name of the mental health condition which is present when several different personality states/parts/identities can physically take control of someone’s body. Other criteria also exist including amnesia and signs of clinically significant distress.

In Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) these terms are often used, these date back to when it was known as Multiple personality disorder:

alter / alter personality

host – which ever alter or alters are in charge most of the time. They usually do not hold trauma memories.



fragment – a part without distinct or complete identity and not capable of functioning independently, fragments typically do a very specific job only or hold a particular part of a traumatic experience – e.g. the visual memory and knowledge of specific abuse with no recollection of the pain (which another fragment will hold). Fragments are not considered fully personality states for the purpose of diagnosis.

– a part without distinct or complete identity and not capable of functioning independently, fragments typically do a very specific job only or hold a particular part of a traumatic experience – e.g. the visual memory and knowledge of specific abuse with no recollection of the pain (which another fragment will hold). Fragments are not considered fully personality states for the purpose of diagnosis. polyfragmented DID – dozens of alters/personality states exist, usually with fragments as well. This is common in survivors of organized or ritual abuse and extreme abuse during the earliest years of childhood.

Structural Dissociation:

The current model used in understanding of DID

The terms currently used more accurately represent expert understanding of DID. These terms are:

ANP / Apparently Normal Part

EP / Emotional Part

polyfragmented DID – a term still used with its original meaning, in effect describing large DID systems

Every person with DID has at least two ANPs – parts who appear totally “normal” in the sense of not repeatedly living in a state of trauma. Typical jobs for ANPs would include continuing daily life “as normal” – i.e. cooking, cleaning, eating, sleeping, studying or working, and it is typically an ANP who would seek medical treatment or therapy if they felt it necessary.

Fragments – can hold only one or two emotions or respond only to very specific situations. The main job of a fragment is usually to hold unprocessed trauma memories. An EP is an elaborate fragment that holds trauma memories. In young children who are overwhelmed by abuse the EP can act as the hosts, but usually EP are not hosts. They only take this job in extreme times, which for some children can be the bulk of their childhood.

How do ANPs and EPs differ?

This artwork by Emma shows the different types of thoughts she experiences from her different personality states.

Which answers do you think may come from an ANP? Can you spot any that may be from an EP?



Update 2 Oct 2013:

Thank you to everyone who responded to this post.

I decided to rename it today since it’s about understanding the terms ANP and EP. in order to make sense of some of the posts on here. It’s not about getting anyone to use terms that don’t feel right. For some people having terms to describe and make sense of what’s going on internally is helpful. For other people it isn’t.

If you have DID or you know someone that has then use which ever terms or names feel most comfortable. No special terms or research can ever describe what an individual or system really feels like.

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More art work

http://www.flickr.com/photos/traumanddissociation