Dissociative Identity Disorder : Diagnosis, Clinical Features, and Treatment of Multiple Personality

The book thoroughly examines the complex and disturbing disorder popularly known as Multiple Personality Disorder, renamed Dissociative Identity Disorder in the new DSM-IV. It covers the diagnosis, dynamics, assessment, differential diagnosis, and treatment of this disorder and presents significant new research findings.

Since the publication of Colin A. Ross's influential work MultiplePersonality Disorder in 1989, this challenging field has evolvedrapidly--with new thinking, new research, and a new name:dissociative identity disorder (DID). Keeping pace with thesedevelopments, this retitled Second Edition has been skillfullyrevised and expanded to offer a comprehensive, detailed, and fullyup-to-date grounding in the history, diagnosis, and treatment ofDID. Readers will find three new chapters covering epidemiology, a soundcritique of skeptics of DID, and the problem of attachment to theperpetrator and the locus of control shift. There is also a freshlook at the pathways leading to DID, a discussion of the falsememory controversy, and more, with material throughout based on thelatest research and the author's extensive clinical and forensicexperience. By providing an in-depth examination of this complex illness,Dissociative Identity Disorder not only facilitates a deeperunderstanding of people who have used dissociation to cope withyears of childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, but alsoreveals new insights into many other psychiatric disorders in whichdissociation plays a role. Like Multiple Personality Disorder, thisupdated volume is an authoritative and indispensable reference forpsychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, socialworkers and other mental health professionals, as well asresearchers in these fields. "Ross provides a comprehensive and interesting account of thehistory of MPD, dispelling many myths. He presents new insight intothe treatment of MPD, with information about such concerns as howto talk to a patient, how to schedule your time, and how to keepyour private and [professional] lives separate. . . . MultiplePersonality Disorder will be an invaluable addition to thereference libraries of sexual abuse clinics, child abuse agencies,and correctional facilities, as well as clinicians." --FamilyViolence Bulletin