Recently National Public Radio ran a program on California’s state psychiatric hospitals. There has reportedly been an enormous increase in patient violence in recent years, including the murder of a female employee in October 2010. Staff are demanding that some remedial measures be undertaken. Committees are meeting; politicians are giving speeches. But the violence continues…. Continue Reading
Archives for December 2011
Multiple Personality Disorder, Continued
The concept of personality is very firmly established in mental health circles and in academic psychology. It is also widely used in common speech, and is frequently offered as having explanatory value, when in fact it has none. Consider the following conversation: “Why is Mary so quiet and reserved?” “Oh, that’s just her personality.” Or… Continue Reading
More on Multiple Personality Disorder
I’m now in retirement, but during my professional career I usually (almost always) wore a suit and tie when I went to work. I enjoyed my work, and I was very comfortable in that role. But I’m also a committed remodeler. Apart from the time when I was acutely ill, I’ve always had at least… Continue Reading