[with Bethany Brand, Vedat Sar et al] Harvard Review of Psychiatry, Vol.24, Issue 4, July-August 2016, pp. 257-270.
Dissociative identity disorder (DID) is a complex, posttraumatic, developmental disorder for which a research base has built up over decades. Yet despite this, misconceptions about DID continue to circulate. This article examines and refutes six of the most common myths: (1) the myth that DID is a fad, (2) the myth that DID is primarily diagnosed in North America by DID experts who over diagnose it, (3) the myth that DID is rare, (4) the myth that DID is an iatrogenic rather than trauma-based disorder, (5) the myth that DID is the same entity as borderline personality disorder, and (6) the myth that DID treatment is harmful to patients. The absence of research to substantiate these misconceptions, together with the body of research that refutes them, confirms their mythical status. It is important that these myths about DID are exposed as illegitimate in order to assist understanding and appropriate treatment of this devastating trauma-based disorder (for which the cliched description of `controversial’ is itself based on misconceptions and is an impediment to effective treatment).