The number of personalities, also known as alters, that individuals with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) may have can vary significantly. There is no fixed or specific number of alters that someone with DID will have. Some individuals may have just a few alters, while others might have numerous identities.
Cases of DID have been reported with as few as two alters, and there have been extreme cases with hundreds of distinct identities documented. However, it's important to note that these extreme cases are relatively rare.
The number of alters can change over time, as some alters may merge or integrate with others, or new alters may emerge in response to different life situations or stressors.
It's also important to understand that the primary defining feature of DID is not the number of alters but the presence of distinct personality states or identities within one person, accompanied by memory gaps and dissociative amnesia.
Diagnosing and treating DID requires specialized expertise, and mental health professionals with experience in dissociative disorders should be involved in the assessment and care of individuals with this condition.