The Switch Process in Multiple Personality Disorder and Other State-Change Disorders

p. 24-32.This paper explores the properties of states of consciousness as they are revealed by the process of state-change or switching. Drawing on examples of state of consciousness transitions in infants, altered states of consciousness, and psychiatric disorders, a number of common principles are derived. These include the observation that states of consciousness are discrete self-organizing patterns of behavior differing along axes of affect, access to memory, attention and cognition, regulatory physiology, and sense of self. State transitions are marked by non-linear changes in these variables. A developmental model is outlined and the implications for treatment and further research are discussed

Integrating research on dissociation and hypnotizability: are there two pathways to hynotizability?

p. 032-038Attention to the relationship between hypnotizability and dissociation has been limited to date. A few studies have examined instances of dissociation in the context of hypnosis. Only recently have researchers begun to ask questions about the relationship between an individual's hypnotizability and his or her tendency to dissociate on a day-to-day basis. A review of the literature and recent research in this area invites reconsideration of J. Hilgard 's theory of two developmental pathways to hypnotizability. The parallel question is also raised of whether the different pathways result in the experience of qualitatively different hypnotic states

The diagnosis and treatment of MPD

p. 116. A print copy of the reviewed book is available through the UO Libraries under the call number: KNIGHT RC569.5.M8 P87 198

Dissociative symptoms and aggression in a state mental hospital

p. 021-024The Dissociative Experience Scale (DES) was administered to 70 patients in a state mental hospital in the rural northeastern United States. Staff rated respondents' behavior on a scale composed of the Modified Overt Aggression Seale (MOAS), an additional question about sexual aggression, and a series of questions about other troublesome behaviors. Thirty percent of respondents scored 30 or above on the DES; 14.3% scored over 45. The DES correlated significantly with the full behavior rating scale (r = .27) , the M0AS (r = .23) and the M0AS plus sexual aggression question (EMOAS) (r = .23). The relationship between the DES and behavior ratings varied widely between wards. Item analysis found the DES scores correlated with physical aggression (r = .23) and aggression against self (r = .26). Among the 27 sample females, the DES correlated significantly with the EMOAS (r = .38), full patient behavior rating scale (r = .40) and items on aggression against self (r = .33) and sexual aggression (r = .36)

The clinical phenomenology of males with MPD: a report of 21 cases

p. 135-143We describe 21 male patients meeting DSM-111-R and NIMH criteria for multiple personality disorder (MPD). They were compared with female patients in the NIMH data base on MPD and dissociative disorders. Striking similarities between males and females were found on most variables. Both groups had extensive childhood histories of sexual and physical abuse far exceeding the prevalences reported for other clinical and non-clinical populations. There were trends for males to have more alcoholism and antisocial behavior. Generally, males had more subtle clinical presentations than females and reported fewer alter personalities. Implications of these findings and the limitations of the present study are discussed

Diagnosis and clinical phenomenology of multiple personality disorder: a North American perspective

p. 080-08

Further validation of the child dissociative checklist

p. 204-211The Child Dissociative Checklist (CDC) is a 20-item parent/adult observer report measure of dissociative behaviors. The processes of establishing the reliability, validity and limitations of such an instrument includes its use by different investigators and under different conditions. This study compared CDCs completed by parents and guardians of children with analogous dissociation scales completed by the children's primary therapists. In this sample the CDC had a Cronbach's alpha of .86 and was significantly correlated with the two clinician-completed measures of dissociation. The CDC was able to statistically discriminate between children diagnosed as having multiple personality disorder and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified. The results provide further evidence that the CDC is a useful, reliable and valid screening tool for the detection of pathological dissociation in children

Preliminary results of the field trial of proposed criteria for dissociative disorder of childhood

p. 212-220Despite recent increased awareness of child and adolescent dissociative disorders, the lack of an official "sanction" by the inclusion of specific diagnostic entities in the DSM-III-R/ W has seriously impeded the acceptance of these conditions in youthful population. There are also widespread concerns that the adult-oriented DSM criteria are often inappropriate for child and adolescent cases. To correct these deficiencies, the diagnosis of Dissociative Disorder of Childhood (DDoC) has been proposed. A preliminary, questionnaire-based, field trial was initiated to test the proposed DDoC criteria. Results indicate that the DDoC criteria identify a group of children who do not meet DSM-III-R/ IV criteria for multiple personality disorder, but who nonetheless have significant levels of dissociative symptoms. These criteria also serve to discriminate children with DDoC from another group of children, frequently labeled with Dissociative Disorder NOS, who have a different clinical picture. Based on these data, DDoC criteria will be further refined

A comparison study of dissociative symtoms in patients with complex partial seizures, MPD, and posttraumatic stress disorder

p. 017-023Depersonalization and dissociative symptoms have been widely reported in chronic seizure disorder patients, especially those with temporal lobe involvement and complex partial seizures (CPS). It has been theorized that development of multiple personality disorder (MPD) may be related to temporal lobe pathology. We administered the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) to 12 male patients with severe chronic epilepsy, primarily of the complex partial type. Patients had had epilepsy from one to thirty years. Most were being evaluated for intractable seizures occurring several times per week. DES data on the epileptic patients were compared with DES data on 9 male MPD patients and 39 male PTSD patients. MPD and PTSD patients were significantly different from CPS patients on median DES scores and all DES sub-scale scores. MPD and PTSD patients were far more similar on the DES, although MPD patients had a significantly higher score on the dissociation/psychogenic amnesia sub-scale of the DES. The authors conclude that there is little data to support a relationship between MPD, dissociation, and epilepsy

An update on the Dissociative Experience Scale

p. 016-027The authors review a wide range of studies that relate to the norms, reliability, and validity of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Appropriate clinical and research use of the scale are discussed together with factor analytic studies and fruitful statistical analysis methods. Current research with the DES is described and promising new research questions are highlighted. Suggestions are made for translating and using the DES in other cultures. A second version of the DES, which is easier to score, is included as an appendix