Multiple personality disorder in the courts: A review of the North American experience

Abstract

Multiple personality disorder has increasingly been encountered in the forensic setting in North America over the past 20 years, in particular in relation to competency hearings and insanity defences. The particular legal problems that have arisen are reviewed, the most significant US cases and judicial decisions are explored, and their implications for issues of responsibility, individuality and punishment are discussed.

Key Words:

• multiple personality disorder
• dissociation
• insanity
• fitness to plead
• responsibility
• punishment