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 Multiple Personality Disorder in 1989, this challenging field has evolved rapidly—with new thinking, new research, and a new name: dissociative identity disorder (DID). Keeping pace with these developments, this retitled Second Edition has been skillfully revised and expanded to offer a comprehensive, detailed, and fully up-to-date grounding in the history, diagnosis, and treatment of DID.

Readers will find three new chapters covering epidemiology, a sound critique of skeptics of DID, and the problem of attachment to the perpetrator and the locus of control shift. There is also a fresh look at the pathways leading to DID, a discussion of the false memory controversy, and more, with material throughout based on the latest research and the author's extensive clinical and forensic experience.

By providing an in-depth examination of this complex illness, Dissociative Identity Disorder not only facilitates a deeper understanding of people who have used dissociation to cope with years of childhood physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, but also reveals new insights into many other psychiatric disorders in which dissociation plays a role. Like Multiple Personality Disorder, this updated volume is an authoritative and indispensable reference for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychiatric nurses, social workers and other mental health professionals, as well as researchers in these fields.

"Ross provides a comprehensive and interesting account of the history of MPD, dispelling many myths. He presents new insight into the treatment of MPD, with information about such concerns as how to talk to a patient, how to schedule your time, and how to keep your private and [professional] lives separate. . . . Multiple Personality Disorder will be an invaluable addition to the reference libraries of sexual abuse clinics, child abuse agencies, and correctional facilities, as well as clinicians." —Family Violence Bulletin

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