The Work of Antoine Despine: The First Scientific Report on the Diagnosis and Treatment of a Child with Multiple Personality Disorder

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Abstract
Papers describing the signs and symptoms of multiple personality disorder (MPD) are increasing in the contemporary scientific literature where, ironically, the clinical researchers of today are rediscovering phenomena already documented in nineteenth century medical texts. Indeed, 150 years ago, there were already psychiatric monographs discussing the diagnosis and treatment of MPD. One of these monographs was written by Antoine Despine, a French physician who, in 1840, described the diagnosis and treatment of a child MPD. Despine is presented in his historical context as are the symptoms pathognomonic of MPD that Despine relates in his index patient, Estelle. His diagnosis and treatment are reviewed and compared to the treatments endorsed by today's MPD specialists.

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