Multiple personality disorder: a risk indicator, diagnostic marker and psychiatric outcome for severe child abuse

Recent studies suggest that multiple personality disorder (MPD) is not as rare as previously believed. Indeed, it may represent a relatively common (as many as 25% of cases) outcome of severe physical and sexual abuse of children. Because diagnosis and treatment offer the best prognosis, it is important for the pediatric clinician to become familiar with both the at risk situations (such as cult practices and multigenerational sexual abuse) as well as the more unusual behavioral presentations of this disorder.