MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DISORDER AND SATANIC RITUAL ABUSE: THE ISSUE OF CREDIBILITY

The issue of satanic ritual abuse has gained widespread public and professional attention in. the past 10 years. During therapy, many adult AMPI) (multiple personality disorder) patients describe memories of .such abuse beginning in childhood..Simultaneou.sly, there are pre-school children reporting cnrrent incidents of sexual and physical abuse involving salanism in day care settings. Professionals specifically addressing the day care cases have attempted to delineate features which distinguish ritual abuse from traditional conceptualizations of rhild aim se. The charactcri.slicc of ritual abuse which they have identified are presented, as well as similarities and differences between the child and adult 111P1) patients ' reports. Inevitable questions regarding the validity and accuroc' of 111Y1) patients' sratanir abuse memories are explored. The substantiated oecumenic of ritual abuse in rontemporary, non-satanic, dangerous cults is discussed as a framework for considering the authenticity of IbIPI) patients ' satanic abuse accounts. It is proposed that an attitude of critical judgement concerning reports of satanic ritual abuse is necessary, to avoid either denying the issue or over-generalizing the nature and extent of the problem.