Multiple Personalities, Related Disorders and Hypnosis

Abstract

The central mechanism in cases of multiple personalities appears to be spontaneous self-hypnosis. Furthermore, spontaneous self-hypnosis contributes to many cases of hysteria (Briquet's syndrome), borderline shizophrenia, reactive schizophrenia, anorexia nervosa, sociopathy, and cases with many other diagnostic designations. In turn, cases of multiple personalities offer insights into the nature of hypnosis.