Case Study: Narrative Of A Psychotherapeutic Treatment Of Dissociative Identity Disorder In An Adolescent

Abstract

Over the last three decades, significant developments have been made in the areas of dissociative disorders research and clinical practice. Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder) is generally regarded as the most controversial of the dissociative disorder diagnoses, and yet is considered by those working with the disorder to be fundamental to the dissociation paradigm. Countering its image as a bizarre and intractable disorder, clinicians have built up a substantial body of literature which indicates that it is in fact eminently understandable and treatable. Specific theoretical principles and techniques have been developed for psychotherapeutic treatment of this group of patients with integration as the ultimate - but not exclusive - goal. The dual purpose of this case study is to describe patient symptoms and dynamics, and to illustrate the progression of an individual psychotherapeutic treatment of DID in an adolescent over a 14-month period in both inpatient and outpatient settings. The primary orientation of this case study is accordingly descriptive rather than analytic.


Southern African Jnl Child and Adolescent Mental Health Vol.13(1) 2001:67-80