title: The mirror has two faces: dissociative identity disorder and the defence of pathological criminal incapacity--a South African criminal law perspective.
abstract: Dissociative identity disorder poses numerous medico legal issues whenever the insanity defence emerges. Within the context of the South African criminal law, the impact of dissociative identity disorder on criminal responsibility has only been addressed very briefly in one decided case. Various questions arise as to the impact that the distinctive diagnostic features of dissociative identity disorder could possibly have on the defence of pathological criminal incapacity, or better known as the insanity defence, within the ambit of the South African criminal law. In this contribution the author reflects on the mental disorder known as dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder, against the backdrop of the defence of pathological criminal incapacity. Reflections are also provided pertaining to the various medico legal issues at stake whenever this defence has to be adjudicated upon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa. philip.stevens@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stevens
mesh_terms: D003416:Criminal Law; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D009105:Dissociative Identity Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007298:Insanity Defense; D013019:South Africa