Dissociation of Trauma: Theory, Phenomenology, and Technique: Ira Brenner Madison, Ct.  International Universities Press, 2001,  256 pp

This excellent book presents a psychoanalytically sophisticated account, rich in clinical detail, of the dynamics and treatment of multiple personality disorder, now referred to in the psychiatric literature as dissociative identity disorder (DID) The whole issue of multiple personality is controversial enough, but in discussing it, Brenner explores recovered memories of sexual abuse, the applicability of the death instinct concept to certain clinical phenomena, and even the border between intersubjectivity and telepathy. All of these subjects, however, are dealt with in what seems to be a perfect balance of curiosity, open-mindedness, and a solid grounding in clinical reality and psychoanalytic methodology It is clear that Brenner has extensive experience in the supervision and clinical treatment—including psychoanalysis—of patients with DID He brings up many fascinating points that are impossible to enumerate in a short review But as an example, he provides anecdotal evidence for the contention that as multiple personality disorder began to recede as a diagnosis, in favour of Bleuler's term schizophrenia, many more severe cases of DID ended up in either the back wards of institutions, deemed medication-resistant, or as one of the striking psychotherapeutic cures of schizophrenia reported in the literature.