Advances in Assessment: The Differential Diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder and Schizophrenia

All That Dissociation Instruments Measure Is Not Dissociation: “All That Glistens Is Not Gold”

“…Schäfer et al (2009) think that structured interviews of dissociation are more reliable. Thus, for example, a Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D) study found little overlap between individuals with a dissociative disorder and individuals with schizophrenia (Steinberg & Siegel, 2009). In contrast, two studies with the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) report the usual large overlap in dissociation scores.…”

“…Vermetten, Lanius, and Bremner (2009) described how DID and schizophrenia "can be distinguished by their etiology and neurobiology" (p. 232) and, in some instances (e.g., auditory hallucinations), by their phenomenology. Similarly, Steinberg and Siegel (2009) tabulated "qualitative" differences in the "dissociative" symptoms, hallucinations, delusions, and Schneiderian intrusions in schizophrenia and DID.…”

The need for Experience Focused Counselling (EFC) with voice hearers in training and practice: a review of the literature

“…Of note is also the fact that hearing voices, in addition to various organic disorders, has now been identified as occurring in most non‐biologically based psychiatric disorders (Aleman & Laroi ), including in PTSD and dissociative disorders (Steinberg & Siegel ; Watkins ).…”

Schizophrenia or trauma-related psychosis? Schneiderian first rank symptoms as a challenge for differential diagnosis

“…Furthermore, this working group published psychopathological differences between these two disorders ( Table 2). The differentiation of DID patients from schizophrenic patients is not possible with SFRS alone, tests for dissociation are essential for successful differential diagnosis and, subsequently, treatment planning [72].…”