Assessment of Multiple Personality Disorder Using Art Therapy
Graduation Date
Fall 1993
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Abstract
Multiple Personality Disorder has been the cause of much debate in the -field of clinical psychology. Once believed to be extremely rare, the diagnosis of Multiple Personality Disorder has been given more frequently in the past few years. MPD has also received much press and has been somewhat sensationalized in the media.
Consequently, there has been a sharp increase in the misdiagnosis of MPD.
Verbal interviews and other assessments have failed to accurately diagnose MPD. The purpose of this research was to test the validity of an art therapy assessment designed to facilitate the diagnosis of MPD.
The drawings of five women with a diagnosis of MPD were compared to the drawings of five women without MPD.
The results indicated a significant difference between the two groups of women in the category of abreaction drawings which are characterized by violent imagery including cult signs, symbols, and structures.