Dissociative states with abnormal temporal lobe EEG. Multiple personality and the illusion of possession.

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.