Dr. Marlene Steinberg Responds to the review of The Stranger in the Mirror written by Elizabeth Loftus Ph.D. and published in Psychology Today

"IT'S THE 'GOLD STANDARD'"

Elizabeth Loftus' commentary on Stranger in the Mirror: Dissociation: The Hidden Epidemic illustrates the elaborate mythology and misrepresentations surrounding the field of dissociation. As many people are aware, Loftus is not a licensed clinical psychologist and has never diagnosed or treated a single person through psychotherapy. In addition, respected professionals have documented misrepresentations, scientific errors, erroneous conclusions and ethical breaches in regard to her research.

Like all myths, however, Loftus' assertions fall to stand up when compared to the facts. Indeed, there are hundreds of scientific publications documenting advances in the field of dissociation. These articles validate the Steinberg Test (SCID-D) and other screening tools, and also confirm the precise nature and high prevalence of dissociative symptoms and disorders in the general population. Based on the highest standards of psychiatry, the SCID-D is now considered the "gold standard" for identifying dissociative symptoms and disorders. Its reliability for detecting and distinguishing patients suffering from dissociation from those with anxiety, depression, and other disorders has been documented, replicated, published and presented by many clinical investigators around the world. Readers who wish to learn more about the recent advances in diagnosis and scientific evidence for dissociation are invited to review Stranger in the Mirror's detailed annotated bibliography.

Unfortunately, myths about dissociation that ignore scientific evidence to the contrary are still being perpetuated, delaying accurate diagnosis and treatment for survivors of abuse or trauma. One such myth suggests that treatment of dissociative disorders is focused on eliciting memories of abuse from the patient, regardless of whether such memories exist. Another myth suggests that a dissociative disorder can be magically created after reading an informative book. Stranger in the Mirror shatters these and other myths by presenting the scientific truth about this hidden epidemic. In fact, reading the book can help you determine whether you or someone you love can benefit from the recent advances in the field of dissociation with the help of a trained professional.

Marlene Steinberg, M.D., is an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, and has private practices in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Link to original response by Dr. Steinberg in Psychology Today's website