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Multiple Personality and the Illusion of Possession

M-Marsel Mesulam, MD

Arch Neurol. 1981;38(3):176-181.

Abstract
• Twelve patients with clinical and EEG manifestations reminiscent of temporal lobe epilepsy reported symptoms of dissociative states. In seven of these patients, the clinical picture was consistent with multiple personality, whereas the other five had the illusion of supernatural possession. These cases suggest that in selected instances dissociative states may constitute complex behavioral manifestations of chronic limbic epilepsy.

Author Affiliations
From the Behavioral Neurology Unit and Bullard and Denny-Brown Laboratories of the Harvard Neurological Unit, Beth Israel Hospital, Boston.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 30, 1980.

Reprint requests to Neurological Unit, Beth Israel Hospital, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215 (Dr Mesulam).

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