Understanding Multiple Personality Disorders

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1. The phenomenon of Multiple Personality Disorder was first examined:

  a. Approximately 100 years ago

  b. By the pioneers of psychiatric medicine

  c. In Europe only

  d. A and B


2. Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD) occurs:

  a. In women only

  b. in 1.2% of general psychiatric population

  c. About as frequently as schizophrenia

  d. B and C


3. The increase in attention to MPD and reported cases since 1970 is attributed to all but the following:

  a. An increased awareness of child abuse

  b. More individuals have MPD now than at any other time in history

  c. More objective and sophisticated case studies and investigations


4. All but the following is true of dissociation:

  a. It is a coping mechanism that develops when normal coping mechanisms are depleted.

  b. In this state the individual withdraws consciousness while the brain encodes information about the event in a fashion that reduces the shock to the individual.

  c. The individual is conscious of doing this and is able to perform it at will

  d. The result of dissociation is that the event is not completely experienced by the individual.


5. The most extreme level of dissociation is called:

  a. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

  b. Multiple Personality Disorder

  c. Hyper-Dissociation

  d. Borderline Personality Disorder


6. Which of the following is true of Multiple Personality Disorder:

  a. It is the result of trauma which is far greater than normal human stress and surpasses the individual’s ability to cope

  b. The trauma causes the young developing mind to fragment into different selves

  c. A separate consciousness, or personality, is developed which stores the traumatic information

  d. All of the above


7. MPD begins:

  a. In adolescence

  b. In adult women, between the ages of twenty and forty

  c. In childhood, between the ages of two and eight


8. A history of childhood physical or sexual abuse:

  a. Is found in 97% - 98% of MPD cases

  b. Is a minor factor in the etiology of MPD

  c. Is found to be traumatic, but not sufficient to cause MPD


9. The individual with MPD:

  a. Is completely aware of the other personalities

  b. Has a very dramatic presentation with obvious switching between personalities

  c. Often has a very subtle presentation, where switching is apparent only to those who know the individual well


10. The higher percentage of reported cases among females is most likely due to:

  a. A higher incidence of childhood abuse among girls than boys

  b. Women tend to respond to emotional trauma by performing harmful acts against themselves, which leads them into treatment

  c. Men tend to respond to emotional trauma by performing acts of violence against others, thereby ending up in the criminal justice system

  d. B and C


11. The severity of dissociation is related to:

  a. The age of the individual when the abuse experience began

  b. The relationship of the abuser to the child

  c. The frequency of the abuse

  d. All of the above


12. With depersonalization:

  a. The person has the feeling they are an outside observer to themselves

  b. Fears they are going insane

  c. Must practice taking things less personally

  d. All of the above

  e. A and B


13. Which of the following is not true of depersonalization?

  a. The child is able to absolve him/herself of the guilt surrounding the abuse by experiencing the event as happening to someone else.

  b. It is not helpful to the child experiencing the abuse.

  c. It allows the child to continue to live in the abusive environment without emotional collapse.

  d. It is seen as a helpful coping mechanism for the child at the time of abuse, but a problem in later adult life.


14. Multiple Personality Disorder:

  a. Is at the furthest extreme of the continuum of dissociation

  b. Is characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from home

  c. Is often associated with victims of cult abuse

  d. A and C


15. An average number of personalities for someone with MPD:

  a. Ranges from eight to thirteen

  b. Is usually well over 100

  c. Increases as the person ages


16. The various personalities:

  a. Are experienced by the individual as separate and distinct entities.

  b. Share the same memories and feelings about the abuse experience

  c. Have been created to perform different functions or roles in the person’s life

  d. A and C


17. The host personality is:

  a. The personality who has executive control of the body the greatest percentage of time.

  b. May or may not be the legal personality.

  c. The personality perceived by the system as capable of keeping the system intact.

  d. All of the above.


18. The presenting personality is:

  a. The same as the host.

  b. The personality who presents for treatment.

  c. Is only experienced during the first contact with a therapist, then disappears.


19. The most common personality found among MPD patients is:

  a. The presenting personality

  b. A nurturing parent figure

  c. A terrified child

  d. An animal


20. Co-consciousness refers to:

  a. The ability to go into a hypnotic trance

  b. The awareness of one personality to the others

  c. The ability to remember the abuse


21. Switching can be brought on by:

  a. Vague memories of abuse

  b. Stress in the individual’s life

  c. Conflict between the alters

  d. All of the above


22. Protective personalities:

  a. Are always male.

  b. Are of very little use in therapy.

  c. Were created to protect the original or other personalities from intolerable conditions.


23. The internal self-helper personality:

  a. Is the rational part of the system

  b. Is extremely helpful in therapy

  c. Is able to assist the therapist in working with the various alters

  d. All of the above


24. The manifestation of the various alter personalities can seem fantastic and unbelievable. It is important to:

  a. Give the patient a reality check and lt him or her know that these personalities do not really exist.

  b. Remember that to the patient each personality is a separate and real entity and must be given respect as such.

  c. Tell the patient they no longer need these alters and to stop switching.


25. Prior to receiving an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the average MPD patient:

  a. Receives three erroneous diagnoses

  b. Usually ends up in jail

  c. Has spent up to 50% of his or her life in a hospital

  d. All of the above