Structured interview data of 102 cases of multiple personality disorder from four centers

Article Abstract:

Very little research has been done on multiple personality disorders and until 1980, there existed almost no documentation. Multiple personality disorder refers to the co-existence of two or more distinct personalities within one person, and at least two of these personalities share control of the individual's behavior. A total of 102 patients with multiple personality disorder were described and assessed to determine the features of this condition. The patients studied were from one of four different clinics in Canada and the group consisted of 92 women and 10 men. To assess characteristics of the group, the patients were interviewed and the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule was used. The results showed overall comparable scores for all the subjects; a stable and consistent set of features was also observed. A strong correlation was found between multiple personality and a history of physical or sexual abuse, or both. Between 60 and 82 percent of the subjects had been physically abused; between 68 and 90 percent had been sexually abused; and more than 88 percent of the patients had received one or the other form of abuse in childhood. This substantiates the findings of previous studies, which have indicated that multiple personalty disorder is associated with childhood trauma more than any other known psychiatric disorder. Concurrent diagnoses are common, and typically include substance abuse, depression, somatization disorder (physical symptoms without apparent physical disorder), and borderline personality. In the group studied, over 15 somatic symptoms were noted; more than six had Schneiderian symptoms (these included auditory hallucinations, belief that thoughts, feelings or actions are under the control of an outside force, delusions, or hearing one's thoughts aloud); two or more borderline personality features were observed. Over 90 percent of the subjects experienced symptoms of these three disorders. Over 70 percent of the subjects in this study reported that they believed that another person with a different name was inside them. Further clarification of this condition and the implementation of a standardized screening test for multiple personality disorder should make the diagnosis of the condition more common and show the incidence to be higher than previously thought. An appendix with proposed diagnostic criteria for this disorder to be included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, is provided. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Complications and side effects, Child abuse

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The frequency of multiple personality disorder among psychiatric inpatients

Article Abstract:

Dissociative disorders, of which multiple personality disorder is perhaps the most well known, have recently been researched with renewed interest. New evidence exists that multiple personality disorder, once considered very rare, may be more common among psychiatric patients than originally thought. The present study is the first large, systematic screening of psychiatric inpatients for multiple personality disorder. A structured interview was used and clinical assessments were performed by persons blind to the nature of the study. Two 23-bed general psychiatric inpatient units were used for study during a two-year period. During the period, 299 patients completed the Dissociative Experiences Scale, 80 of whom had a structured diagnostic interview. Patients with a history of dissociative disorders were excluded. A total of 10 patients (3.3 percent) had a clinical multiple personality disorder as diagnosed by a clinician and the scale. This percentage was significant and did not include six additional patients who received definitive clinical diagnoses of multiple personality disorder, but were not rated as such by the scale. Accounting for all 16 patients, the incidence in this sample was 5.4 percent. Specific inquiry about the clinical features of multiple personality disorder should be part of daily diagnostic interviewing. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Mentally ill persons, Demographic aspects, Mentally ill

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Differences between multiple personality disorder and other diagnostic groups on structured interview

Article Abstract:

A standardized psychiatric interview was used to diagnose 20 multiple personality patients, 20 schizophrenic patients, 20 panic disorder patients, and 20 eating disorder patients. Results showed that multiple personality can be distinguished from other disorders by history of physical abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, sleepwalking, childhood imaginary playmates, and extrasensory and supernatural experiences. Multiple personality patients also differ from other patients with respect to standard diagnostic criteria, amnesia, and fugue (episodes during which the patient appears conscious but is not and remembers nothing later). However, the different groups of patients had the same number of major depressive episodes.

Eating disorders, Mental illness, Schizophrenia, Panic disorders, Panic disorder, Psychiatric diagnosis

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