The Diagnosis and Treatment of Dissociative Identity Disorder: A Case Study and Contemporary Perspective

The diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder, formerly known as multiple personality disorder, remains controversial, despite its inclusion as an established diagnosis in psychiatry’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV). This book consists, first, of the detailed description of the treatment of a patient whose syndrome of DID emerged in the course of therapy, by a psychoanalyst who entered into the therapy as a complete skeptic. The therapist’s willingness to explore the meaning and reality of the dramatic and at times bizarre presentation of this disorder in a prolonged and difficult treatment was accompanied by an eventual successful outcome. Using this case as a reference point, the author then provides a contemporary exploration of the literature about the authenticity of this diagnosis and approaches to its treatment.