The case of a 30-year-old woman with five distinct personalities is presented. The patient was treated, using a system of structured video taped
sodium amobarbital interviews, in which areas to be explored were developed in psychotherapy. Tapes were played for the patient after each session. The taped material was used as the basis for psychotherapeutic investigation. The patient evidenced many of the features previously reported in cases of
multiple personality, specifically: being the product of an unwanted pregnancy in a repressively rigid family; emotional distancing by one parent; strong sibling rivalry with an adopted sib; family history of
mental illness; a traumatic first sexual experience (rape); a marriage to a maladjusted individual in an attempt to escape the parental home; a high internalized standard of performance and an inability to display anger or negative feelings toward the parents. In the course of treatment, the patient's personalties fused and she was able to accept each component as part of herself. No further fragmentation has occurred during the year following discharge. The
therapy technique minimized dependency, and the possiblity of addiction to
amobarbital interviews permitted more active patient
therapy involvement, and set clear-cut goals and expectations for improvement before further
amobarbital interviews could be conducted.