Mary Reynolds: a post-traumatic reinterpretation of a classic case of multiple personality disorder

In 1811 Mary Reynolds, a somber Pennsylvania spinster, awoke from a prolonged sleep as a new personality. Family memoirs describing her 18 years of shifts between two personalities shaped nineteenth century thinking about multiple personality disorder. As in other early case histories, no mention was made of childhood trauma, a factor found in 97% of contemporary cases. This discussion reviews genealogical and historical documents which suggest that Mary Reynolds did experience early trauma as a victim of religious persecution, which finally forced her family to leave Birmingham, England, when Mary was eight. Review of her illness indicates it may have functioned to eradicate memories of traumatic early experiences.