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Patrick Purcell’s article “A Basic Introduction to Multiple Personality Disorder” (now known as Dissociative Identity Disorder) was published in the January/February 1994 issue of the journal THE CALIFORNIA THERAPIST.”

A Basic Introduction To Multiple Personality Disorder

Now also known as Dissociative Identity Disorder

INTRODUCTION

The good news about Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) is that more therapists are learning about it and asking their clients in their initial interviews the basic questions in regard to dissociation: “Do you ever experience lost periods of time or time lapses?” “Do you ever hear voices from inside your head that tell you to do things or comment on things that you do?” “Do you ever feel like you have personality shifts?” Therapists are realizing that children often go into a state of trance when they are abused so trance or hypnosis is needed in the assessment and treatment of child abuse. Increasing numbers of therapists are joining the International Society for The Study of Multiple Personality and Dissociation at (708) 966‑4322 and the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis at (708) 297‑3317.

Multiple Personality Disorder is the existence of more than one personality with unique behavior patterns. This subpersonality or alter can take control of the body at different times and make the client unconscious or amnesiac to what is happening during those times.