Ah. I've written stuff on this but probably no point trying to post it as it will only get 'moved'.

There is an abundance of stuff on MPD / DID. An abundance of stuff and a range of variation in the quality too...

I'm a little wary of a fair few of the claims made in the article. For example:

> in the world outside the USA, MPD still exists. Only in the USA have all multiples been told they have a false belief that they have alters running their bodies.

Actually the majority of dx of DID / MPD come from clinician's working in bible belt areas of the US. That has led many to claim that DID / MPD is a culture bound syndrome that is fairly much limited to the United States of America. While there has been a surge of cases reported in Australia, they were reported AFTER a certain clinician in the USA was struck off the register (for misconduct) and set up shop in Australia. There aren't many cases reported in the UK. There aren't many cases reported in NZ. The majority of cases come from... Bible belt areas of the US.

I don't think anyone questions the existence of the disorder (by which I mean I don't think anyone questions the fact that there are indeed people who meet dx criteria for DID / MPD).

The controversy is mostly around whether the disorder is a natural kind (like alzheimers and co) or whether the disorder is a therapists creation. Kluft reported that it was very rare indeed to encounter a full blown case (meeting criteria) PRIOR to treatment. That in the initial phases of treatment there are mere 'windows of diagnosability where the client may exhibit transatory symptoms'. Thus sceptics maintain that over enthusiastic therapists shape the symptoms into full blown cases in their zealousness...

That is the main item of controversy. I'd post links to the 'Psychological Bulletin' which is available online so people could get into the spirit of the debate, but I think you need a subscription to access...

Another claim... He mentions trauma before age 7. That is an empirical question. Memory is a constructive process and if therapists and clients both believe that trauma before age 7 is the only explanation for their symptoms then what do you know... Memories are recovered... Thus fueling the plight of the false memory foundation. Sigh.

Before one asks whether it is possible for there to be more than one self to a body one needs to be clear on what a self is. Same goes for 'personality' or 'identity'. Most theorists these days think that selves are social constructs so I don't see why they should be so hesitant to think that one couldn't construct more than one... Typically they are okay with admitting that one could construct more than one... The real debate is over whether the disorder is naturally occuring or whether it is therapist induced.

Consider hysterical paralysis that was popular around the time Freud and Co displayed an interest in it. You don't see much of it anymore - how come? Because therapists stopped showing an interest in it... And... The Multiple Personality (or the Dissociative Personality) was born.