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Multiple personalty and psychoanalysis are facing each other again after a century. Are they destined to be incompatible and remain separate? We hope not. Can a rapprochment be achieved which might enrich our understanding of dissociative phenomena and mental functioning in general? We are of the opinion that a report such as this is a first step in that direction.
In the opening article, we tried to identify and discuss the relationship between modern trauma theory, the clinical phenomena of MPD, and psychoanalytic theory. The role of a major paradigm shift and the attendent confusion and “factionalization” that results are especially emphasized in that discussion. Adherents to one paradigm may simply “see” a different world than aherents to a different paradigm. Although trauma theory and psychoanalytic theory may be different paradigms, we believe there is sufficient overlap to allow serious students of MPD to benefit from immersion in both worlds.
The two cases nicely illustrated the phenomena under discussion. Dr. Fink's case is cleaner and more polished, seen by the therapist throughout the course of treatment predominately from the modern trauma theory perspective. Dr. Lyon's case is abundantly rich in material that illustrates the dilemmas facing most psychoanalytically oriented practitioners who attempt to begin treating MPD patients. Her willingness to share her experience, including the countertransference phenomena, allows us to take this difficult step vicariously. Together the two cases bring to life the clash of the paradigms and highlight the opportunities for mutual enrichment for trauma theory and psychoanalytic theory.