The persistence of folly: a critical examination of dissociative identity disorder. Part I. The excesses of an improbable concept.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the concept of dissociative identity disorder (DID).


METHODS
We reviewed the literature.


RESULTS
The literature shows that 1) there is no proof for the claim that DID results from childhood trauma; 2) the condition cannot be reliably diagnosed; 3) contrary to theory, DID cases in children are almost never reported; and 4) consistent evidence of blatant iatrogenesis appears in the practices of some of the disorder's proponents.


CONCLUSIONS
DID is best understood as a culture-bound and often iatrogenic condition.
Piper
August
A
University of Western Ontario, London.
Merskey
Harold
H
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology