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

by Colin A. Ross

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 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

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Nonfiction

464 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 1989

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

As my experience increases I continue to run into cases that don't fit into the "typical" categories of mental health problems. Dissociation is a category of problems that has languished in the back alleys of Psychiatry and is therefore irresistible... After my last read on hypnosis I was ready to tackle this quirky book on the infamous DID or multiple personality. Overall there are a lot of fascinating parts to this book, Ross has done his homework. His section on the cognitive distortions underlying the pathology was impressive and informative. The entire idea that one can bring entire cut off elements of the psyche into consciousness using some of his techniques is intriguing. However Ross can come off at times as overenthusiastic and it is easy to imagine how these approaches could go very badly wrong especially in the wrong hands. I don't plan on "calling out alters" any time soon but don't regret reading this fascinating tour of yet another "dark art" in the field.

[Joseph Schrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I believe that Dr. Colin Ross wrote “Dissociative Identity Disorder” principally to encourage his fellow psychiatrists to take DID seriously as a major psychiatric disorder, I bought and read the book in order to gain deeper insights into my own dissociative identity disorders.

I believe that Dr. Ross’s books are the most valuable books on psychiatry/psychology that I have yet encountered. He argues consistently and persuasively against mainstream psychiatry’s obsession with genetics and biology as the root causes of mental disorders. After having read a few of Dr. Ross’ books, I have come to the conclusion that he brings some much-needed sanity into modern, Western psychiatry’s overemphasis on and near obsession with the brain’s genes and innate physiology, very much at the expense of the mentality that interacts with the brain. Psychiatrists would do well to acknowledge that one’s environment (even before birth) can dramatically impact one’s brain development and its extraordinarily delicate functions. One’s psychosocial environment can dramatically participate in and impact one’s moods and mentality so as to shape – and reshape – brain structures to an extent which biologically-based psychiatry gravely fails to seriously address.

I will be harsh with modern psychiatry to the point of declaring that Dr. Ross’s books present, for sufficiently astute readers, a bright light contrasting with much of mainstream psychiatry’s near-bankrupt overvaluation of brain science at the expense of mentality and spirituality.

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

finally, a readable exploration of the issue that doesn't suck.