Who Done It, Actually? Dissociative Identity Disorder for the Criminologist

Abstract

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) (American Psychiatric Association 2013) is examined in this paper from the perspective of its relevance to the criminologist. As this psychiatric condition is linked to severe and prolonged childhood abuse, accounts of DID patients inevitably involve reports of serious crimes, in which the person was the victim, perpetrator or witness. These reports can thus contain crucial information for criminal investigations by the police or for court proceedings. However, due to the person's dissociation, such reports are often very confusing, hard to follow, hard to believe and difficult to obtain. They also frequently state that the person had 'no choice', a thorny notion for the criminologist (as well as for the clinician). Through the analysis of clinical examples, the paper explores how decisions are made by a person with DID, the notions of choice and 'competent reasoning', and the practical and ethical ways for interviewing a person with DID.

Investigative interviewing, dissociative identity disorder and the role of the Registered Intermediary

“…DID has been thought to be linked to a severe and prolonged history of childhood abuse (Sachs, 2015). In addition, the complexity and often contradictory nature of the accounts provided by complainants presenting with DID often creates suspicion as to the veracity of the allegations made (Sachs, 2015).…”

“…The system of EPs and ANPs can become extremely complex according to the theory of secondary structural dissociation (more than one EP) or tertiary structural dissociation where there may be more than one EP and more than one ANP (van der Hart et al, 2010). DID has been thought to be linked to a severe and prolonged history of childhood abuse (Sachs, 2015). In addition, the complexity and often contradictory nature of the accounts provided by complainants presenting with DID often creates suspicion as to the veracity of the allegations made (Sachs, 2015).…”

“…DID has been thought to be linked to a severe and prolonged history of childhood abuse (Sachs, 2015). In addition, the complexity and often contradictory nature of the accounts provided by complainants presenting with DID often creates suspicion as to the veracity of the allegations made (Sachs, 2015). Complainants with DID are considered by some to make unreliable witnesses and difficulties have been reported in how to interview them (Sachs, 2015).…”

“…In addition, the complexity and often contradictory nature of the accounts provided by complainants presenting with DID often creates suspicion as to the veracity of the allegations made (Sachs, 2015). Complainants with DID are considered by some to make unreliable witnesses and difficulties have been reported in how to interview them (Sachs, 2015). Whilst according to Sachs (2015, p. 73) clinicians and criminologists may often avoid interviewing persons with DID, she argues that such interviews are "necessary, possible and often quite therapeutic" and she offers guidelines for interviewers including consideration of the environment in which interviews take place, acknowledging that although you only see one person sitting opposite, you are interviewing a group and that it is necessary to listen to all communication rather than just the main person.…”

How do Patients Diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder Experience Conflict? A Qualitative Study

“…According to Attachment Theory, severe childhood relational trauma may cause children to cope by developing multiple internal working models or dissociative identities (Blizard, 2003;Liotti, 1999;Sachs, 2013). Sachs (2015) argues that nondissociative individuals who have conflicting experiences, such as feelings of fear and safety, may resolve these conflicts through great internal struggle. In contrast, someone with DID may experience internal conflict as external and explicit conflict between their dissociative identities.…”