MULTIPLE PERSONALITY-DISORDER IN AN INTELLECTUALLY DISABLED MAN - A CASE-REPORT

The case of a young man with the dual diagnoses of severe intellectual handicap (IQ 30 and mental age 4 years) and Multiple Personality Diso rder is presented. The intellectual handicap is probably due to hypoxi a in infancy and the Multiple Personality Disorder follows prolonged p hysical and sexual abuse. The patient frequently switches between any of nine discrete but incompletely formed identities. Although some per sonalities seem more capable than others, all have similar levels of d isability on testing. The diagnosis of psychiatric disorders coexisten t with the intellectual handicap is hindered by the difficulty in sepa rating psychiatric phenomena from the behavioural disturbances associa ted with the disability. Differential diagnosis and management are dis cussed.