Attitudes toward DSM-IV dissociative disorders diagnoses among board-certified American psychiatrists

Objective: The authors assessed the opinions of American psychiatrists rega rding the diagnostic status and scientific validity of the DSM-IV categorie s of dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder. Method: A one -page questionnaire was mailed to a random national sample of 367 board-cer tified American psychiatrists. Results: Three hundred one responses were re ceived-a rate of 82%. Only about one-third of respondents replied that diss ociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder should be included with out reservations in DSM-IV; a larger proportion replied that these categori es should be included only as proposed diagnoses. Only about one-quarter of respondents felt that diagnoses of dissociative amnesia and dissociative i dentity disorder were supported by strong evidence of scientific validity. Conclusions: Among board-certified American psychiatrists, there currently appears to be little consensus regarding the diagnostic status or scientifi c validity of dissociative amnesia and dissociative identity disorder.