First-rank symptoms as a diagnostic clue to multiple personality disorder

Am J Psychiatry. 1987 Mar;144(3):293-8. doi: 10.1176/ajp.144.3.293.

Abstract

Thirty patients with multiple personality disorder had one or more of Schneider's 11 first-rank symptoms at initial assessment (mean = 3.6; range = 1-8). The author describes these symptom categories, eight of which were noted in the patients he interviewed, and illustrates them from the patients' case material. He suggests that inquiry about first-rank symptom phenomena may be a valuable diagnostic clue to the presence of multiple personality disorder.

MeSH terms

  • Delusions / diagnosis
  • Delusions / psychology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Dissociative Identity Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Dissociative Identity Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Hallucinations / diagnosis
  • Hallucinations / psychology
  • Humans
  • Hypnosis
  • Male
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*