| Description |
xv, 278 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm |
| Series |
Oxford psychiatry series ; 1 |
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Oxford psychiatry series ; 1
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| Contents |
1. The History of MPD in Academic Literature. Origins of MPD. MPD in the Twentieth Century. The "Epidemic" Current Trends -- 2. Theory and Controversy: Validation of the Disorder. Validation of a Diagnosis. Briquet's Syndrome: A Model for Diagnostic Validation. The Controversy. Proponents of MPD. Skeptics -- 3. Current Knowledge About MPD. Clinical Description of MPD. Comorbidity and Delineation from other Psychiatric Disorders. Familial Associations. Physiologic Investigation. Natural Course, Treatment, and Outcome -- 4. Psychological Investigations of MPD. IQ Tests and Cognitive Testing. Objective Personality Tests. Other Scales. Tests of Dissociation. Specialized Diagnostic Interviews. Experiential Time Sampling. Tests of Hypnotizability. Utility of Psychological Assessment Instruments. A Model for the Role of Psychological Testing in MPD -- 5. MPD and the Popular Media in History -- 6. Popular Biographical Accounts of MPD: A Detailed Analysis of 21 Books |
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7. Perspectives on MPD. The Nosologic Status of MPD. Etiology. Nosologic Issues Affecting Treatment -- Appendix A. Synopses of Book-Length Accounts of MPD -- Appendix B. Summary Tables of Book-Length Accounts of MPD |
| Summary |
The existence and characteristics of multiple personality disorder (MPD) have been debated from the time of the first case reports in the 19th century. The dispute has never been resolved, and MPD has become the most controversial syndrome known to mental health professionals. Currently, very little balanced academic material on this disorder is available, and much of the literature aims to disprove its existence as a psychiatric disorder. In the past, general understanding of MPD was guided largely by this medical literature, but in recent decades the disorder has been widely exposed to both professionals and the public through the mass media. This timely work examines MPD from an empirical viewpoint, describing the research that has been done on the disorder, as well as providing in-depth analysis of how MPD has developed over the years in relation to the media. The book identifies the earliest origins of MPD in published literature and traces the course of its development as a concept to the present. Existing data on MPD are presented in a detailed review of the current state of knowledge of the disorder including clinical description, delineation from other disorders, family history studies, follow-up studies, and laboratory documentation. The authors also point out specific areas of research that is needed before psychiatry can consider MPD an adequately validated diagnosis. This critical approach is designed to provide direction to researchers in the pursuit of a better understanding of MPD and to provide clinicians with a valuable guide |
| Analysis |
Neuroses |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages [251]-270) and indexes |
| Subject |
Mass media -- Influence.
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Multiple personality -- Public opinion.
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Multiple personality.
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Classification.
|
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Dissociative Identity Disorder.
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Dissociative Identity Disorder.
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Dissociative Identity Disorder.
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| Author |
North, Carol S.
|
| LC no. |
92049904 |
| ISBN |
0195080955 |
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