IDENTITY DISORDER"

Dissociation is a common phenomenon in children. Under condi-tions of extreme stress, dissociation may be u veil to wall off traumatic memories. In extreme cases, the use of dissociation. may result in the development ofmultiple personality disorder (MPD).In this paper, the literature of child MPD cases is summarized. Issues addressed include: developmental aspects ofdissociation, child abuse leading to dissociation and multiple personality disorder, gender specific response to trauma, epidemiology, familial factors, checklists for child-hood dissociation, and diagnostic criteria for a proposed diagnos-tic category called "Dissociation Identity Disorder " for the diagno-sis ofevolving children and adolescent MID