Is Multiple Personality Disorder a Valid Diagnosis?
… to cause such hysterical problems in women! Even though Multiple Personality Disorders share some features with what he refers to as “hysteria” the DSM-IV stringently outlines presenting features that overtly differentiate the two classes. In his dissenting argument, Mr. McHugh argues rather feebly that MPD (now DID) is a “socially created artifact” drawing on archaic and stereotyped behaviors of what appears cloaked in the obscurity of Hypochondria (a somatoform disorder.) However, I do agree with his opinion on the power of playing a “victim” and the “sick role” to get attention. I was surprised, with his obvious breadth of knowledge, he did not express the reality of these self-centered pathologies seen in these types of patients, making the connection, however superficial. Instead, he points out, the patients he has seen (mostly women), have been “stuck in the process of therapy” and early in the process of therapy …
