Minds In Many Pieces: Revealing the Spiritual Side of Multiple Personality Disorder

226 Pages·1999·0.77 MB·English

by  Ted Schwarz, Ralph B. Allison

M I N D S I N M A N Y P I E C E S M I N D S I N M A N Y P I E C E S
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M I N D S I N M A N Y P I ECE S M I N D S I N M A N Y P I ECE S
Revealing the Spiritual Side Revealing the Spiritual Side
of Multiple Personality Disorder of Multiple Personality Disorder
by Ralph Allison, M.D. by Ralph Allison, M.D.
with Ted Schwarz with Ted Schwarz
se co n d e d i t i on s e co n d e d i t i on
f 1 9 9 9 v f 1 9 9 9 v
cie publishing cie publishing
pa s o r o b l e s , c a l i f o r n i a pa s o r o b l e s , c a l i f o r n i a
3 3
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Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 98‒96785 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 98‒96785
i s b n 0 – 9 6 6 8 9 4 9 ‒ 0 ‒ 1 i s b n 0 – 9 6 6 8 9 4 9 ‒ 0 ‒ 1
Copyright © 1980, 1999 Copyright © 1980, 1999
by Ralph Allison, M.D., and Ted Schwarz by Ralph Allison, M.D., and Ted Schwarz
All rights reserved All rights reserved
First published in 1980 First published in 1980
by Rawson, Wade Publishers, Inc., New York, as by Rawson, Wade Publishers, Inc., New York, as
Minds in Many Pieces: The Making of a Very Special Doctor Minds in Many Pieces: The Making of a Very Special Doctor
To protect their privacy, the names of all patients To protect their privacy, the names of all patients
mentioned in this book have been changed. mentioned in this book have been changed.
Published by Published by
CIE Publishing CIE Publishing
P. O. Box 957 · Paso Robles, California 93447‒0957 P. O. Box 957 · Paso Robles, California 93447‒0957
Telephone [805] 237‒2665 · Fax [810] 454‒1857 Telephone [805] 237‒2665 · Fax [810] 454‒1857
E-mail:
To my grandchildren, To my grandchildren,
Gregory Marsh, Beth Maiman, Gregory Marsh, Beth Maiman,
Kendra Marsh, & Adam Maiman; Kendra Marsh, & Adam Maiman;
& to all those dissociated patients & to all those dissociated patients
who taught me so much who taught me so much
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content s content s
Introduction page ix Introduction page ix
Preface to the Second Edition xi Preface to the Second Edition xi
i The Molding of a Psychiatrist 3 i The Molding of a Psychiatrist 3
i i Janette, Who Chose to Live 24 i i Janette, Who Chose to Live 24
i i i Carrie, Who Chose to Die 62 i i i Carrie, Who Chose to Die 62
iv My Search for the Inner Workings of the Mind 95 iv My Search for the Inner Workings of the Mind 95
v The Inner Self Helper & The Multiple Mind 122 v The Inner Self Helper & The Multiple Mind 122
vi The Endless Depths of the Mind 134 vi The Endless Depths of the Mind 134
vi i Discovering the Male Multiple Personality 146 vi i Discovering the Male Multiple Personality 146
vi i i Possession & the Spirit World 167 vi i i Possession & the Spirit World 167
ix The Integration Process 184 ix The Integration Process 184
x Afterword : Fifteen Years Later 189 x Afterword : Fifteen Years Later 189
Bibliography 207 Bibliography 207
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i n t r o d u c t i o n i n t r o d u c t i o n
it i s a great priv ilege to be invited to write this introduction to the it i s a great priv ilege to be invited to write this introduction to the
second edition of Minds in Many Pieces by Ralph Allison, M.D. I have known second edition of Minds in Many Pieces by Ralph Allison, M.D. I have known
Ralph since 1977, when we began our correspondence about Dissociative Ralph since 1977, when we began our correspondence about Dissociative
Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder, or MPD). Shortly Identity Disorder (formerly Multiple Personality Disorder, or MPD). Shortly
after we began corresponding, Dr. Allison published two letters that I had after we began corresponding, Dr. Allison published two letters that I had
written on MPD in the first newsletter on MPD, Memos on Multiplicity, written on MPD in the first newsletter on MPD, Memos on Multiplicity,
of which he was the editor (1977–78). He then invited me to present at the of which he was the editor (1977–78). He then invited me to present at the
first American Psychiatric Association Workshop on MPD in 1978. In those first American Psychiatric Association Workshop on MPD in 1978. In those
days, anyone who had treated one case of MPD was an expert. Thus be- days, anyone who had treated one case of MPD was an expert. Thus be-
gan a long association with a man who is a pioneer in the modern treat- gan a long association with a man who is a pioneer in the modern treat-
ment of MPD. Of course, the late Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, Sybil’s therapist, ment of MPD. Of course, the late Dr. Cornelia Wilbur, Sybil’s therapist,
was the other pioneer. was the other pioneer.
Dr. Wilbur organized an American Psychiatric Association panel dis- Dr. Wilbur organized an American Psychiatric Association panel dis-
cussion on MPD, which Dr. Allison moderated, in 1977, at Toronto, Canada. cussion on MPD, which Dr. Allison moderated, in 1977, at Toronto, Canada.
The following year, Dr. Allison started a tradition of giving workshops on The following year, Dr. Allison started a tradition of giving workshops on
the diagnosis and treatment of MPD at the American Psychiatric Associa- the diagnosis and treatment of MPD at the American Psychiatric Associa-
tion. This tradition continues to the present time, although under differ- tion. This tradition continues to the present time, although under differ-
ent leadership. ent leadership.
Dr. Allison’s seminal paper, “A New Treatment Approach for Multiple Dr. Allison’s seminal paper, “A New Treatment Approach for Multiple
Personalities,”published in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis in Personalities,”published in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis in
1974, provided a foundation for subsequent treatment. Another founda- 1974, provided a foundation for subsequent treatment. Another founda-
tional paper,“Psychotherapy of Multiple Personality,”written in 1977, an- tional paper,“Psychotherapy of Multiple Personality,”written in 1977, an-
ticipated many of the subsequently published studies on symptomatol- ticipated many of the subsequently published studies on symptomatol-
ogy, characteristics of alter-personality states, and etiology of MPD. No ogy, characteristics of alter-personality states, and etiology of MPD. No
other clinician had amassed a database of 30 MPD patients by 1976. other clinician had amassed a database of 30 MPD patients by 1976.
After his initial series of important papers, Dr. Allison continued to be After his initial series of important papers, Dr. Allison continued to be
a man of firsts. He formulated the concept of the “Inner Self Helper” a man of firsts. He formulated the concept of the “Inner Self Helper”
[Chapter v], whereby the patient became an instrument in her recovery [Chapter v], whereby the patient became an instrument in her recovery
from MPD. He described the first male multiple in modern times [Chap- from MPD. He described the first male multiple in modern times [Chap-
ter v i i ]. He dealt with hostile professional colleagues long before anyone ter v i i ]. He dealt with hostile professional colleagues long before anyone
had heard of utilization review or managed care. He wrote the first paper had heard of utilization review or managed care. He wrote the first paper
on the forensic aspects of MPD and still has written more on this issue on the forensic aspects of MPD and still has written more on this issue
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minds in many p ieces minds in many p ieces
than any other expert on MPD. His examination of Kenneth Bianchi, than any other expert on MPD. His examination of Kenneth Bianchi,
who plea bargained in the notorious Hillside Strangler murders, led us to who plea bargained in the notorious Hillside Strangler murders, led us to
recognize the possibility that MPD could be malingered in order to avoid recognize the possibility that MPD could be malingered in order to avoid
criminal responsibility. His finding that 50% of his patients had integrated criminal responsibility. His finding that 50% of his patients had integrated
their personality system after an average of 14.7 months of treatment was their personality system after an average of 14.7 months of treatment was
the first attempt at follow up of a series of MPD patients. His findings on the first attempt at follow up of a series of MPD patients. His findings on
the California Psychological Inventory of 25 patients was the first attempt the California Psychological Inventory of 25 patients was the first attempt
to do psychological testing on a group of MPD patients. In short, his to do psychological testing on a group of MPD patients. In short, his
pioneering work on MPD undoubtedly served as a template upon which pioneering work on MPD undoubtedly served as a template upon which
the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of
Mental Disorders (3rd edition of 1980) description of MPD was written. Mental Disorders (3rd edition of 1980) description of MPD was written.
Sadly, one of his patients, Carrie [see Chapter i i i ], was the first reported Sadly, one of his patients, Carrie [see Chapter i i i ], was the first reported
person with MPD who committed suicide. person with MPD who committed suicide.
If one thing characterizes Dr. Allison’s career, it is courage. He had the If one thing characterizes Dr. Allison’s career, it is courage. He had the
courage to talk about his patients’ perceiving that they were possessed by courage to talk about his patients’ perceiving that they were possessed by
evil spirits while other psychiatric professionals were quaking in their pro- evil spirits while other psychiatric professionals were quaking in their pro-
verbial boots. He had the courage to stand up to his professional peers verbial boots. He had the courage to stand up to his professional peers
when they threatened to throw him off of a hospital staff because he when they threatened to throw him off of a hospital staff because he
dared use unconventional therapy techniques such as hypnosis, now a dared use unconventional therapy techniques such as hypnosis, now a
major instrument of cure for many persons with MPD. He had the cour- major instrument of cure for many persons with MPD. He had the cour-
age to change his mind about Kenneth Bianchi’s diagnosis when he be- age to change his mind about Kenneth Bianchi’s diagnosis when he be-
came certain that Bianchi was faking his illness. He continues to speak came certain that Bianchi was faking his illness. He continues to speak
with courage and conviction whenever his professional colleagues bother with courage and conviction whenever his professional colleagues bother
to listen. to listen.
As I said in the beginning of this preface, it truly is a honor to write this As I said in the beginning of this preface, it truly is a honor to write this
introduction to the second edition to Minds in Many Pieces. It is the work introduction to the second edition to Minds in Many Pieces. It is the work
of a compassionate clinician as well as a pioneer who wrote this first of a compassionate clinician as well as a pioneer who wrote this first
modern text on the treatment of MPD. modern text on the treatment of MPD.
Philip M. Coons, M.D. Philip M. Coons, M.D.
Psychiatry Department Psychiatry Department
Indiana University School of Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine
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