Parental Fitness of Mothers With Multiple Personality Disorder - A Preliminary Study

• NCJ Number: 106043
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 11 Issue: 2 Dated: (1987) Pages: 273-280
• Author(s): R P Kluft
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: A version of this paper was presented at the Third International Conference on Multiple Personality/Dissociative States, September 20, 1986, Chicago, IL.

Annotation

This study reviews the parenting patterns of 75 mothers who have multiple personality disorder and identifies those who are grossly abusive to their children and those who are impaired as parents.

Abstract

Multiple personality disorder commonly originates in child abuse and neglect. It has the potential to perpetuate child abuse and promote the transgenerational passage of multiple personality disorder. The mothers in this study are a heterogeneous group. Competent or exceptional mothers were found in 38.7 percent of the study; 16 percent were abusive to the extent of molesting or placing their children at risk; 45.2 percent were compromised or impaired as parents. Workers in the mental health and child abuse fields should cooperate to interrupt this cycle and prevent one of the most frequent causes of child abuse and neglect. 2 tables and 21 references. (Author abstract modified)