Kluft, Richard P., 1943-2005-10-042005-10-041989-060896-2863https://hdl.handle.net/1794/1428p. 083-091The initial assessment of a patient suffering multiple personality disorder (MPD) rarely discloses the full complexity of that patient's system of personalities. Like most other mental disorders, MPD reveals its inner structure gradually, in the course of the uncovering process of therapy. This common sense observation, however, is often disregarded due to the widespread concern that the very procedures designed to alleviate and integrate MPD may augment rather than reduce its complexity. This paper will review factors inherent in the treatment, the patient, and the therapist that may contribute to an actual increment in the patient 's complexity or to the appearance that this has occurred. Most apparent creations of new alter personalities reflect the use of personality formation to cushion the traumatic impact of the treatment, which is inherently painful, or to protect against intercurrent traumata. Others (the majority) represent in fact the discovery of preexisting but previously unrecognized alters. Some alters emerge in response to therapists' errors in technique or inappropriate behaviors.519106 bytesapplication/pdfen-USArticle