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Experiential sampling in the study of multiple personality disorder.
The American Journal of Psychiatry
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Experiential sampling effectively assessed rapid state changes in a woman with multiple personality disorder. This method revealed complexities in the disorder
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Multiple personality disorder, now known as dissociative identity disorder, presents complex challenges in assessment.
- Traditional assessment methods may not fully capture the rapid and fluctuating nature of state changes.
Observation:
- Experiential sampling, a novel time-sampling technique, was applied to study rapid state changes.
- The study involved a woman diagnosed with multiple personality disorder who was signaled randomly to report on personality switches, amnesia, and mood.
Findings:
- Alternate personalities exhibited distinct characteristics comparable to separate individuals.
- Significant discrepancies emerged between self-reported data and information disclosed during therapy sessions.
- The study highlighted the intricate phenomenology of dissociative identity disorder.
Implications:
- Experiential sampling offers a valuable tool for assessing dynamic psychological states.
- Findings suggest that the complexity of dissociative identity disorder may be underestimated early in treatment.
- Further research using this method could enhance understanding and treatment of dissociative disorders.