Seminar Series - Dissociative Identity Disorder: Past Controversies, Present Neuroscientific Insights

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is one of the oldest documented psychiatric conditions, conceptualized as a psychological and biological syndrome for over 100 years.  Yet, historically, controversy over the legitimacy of the diagnosis has impeded its neurobiological study.  Despite these challenges, a pioneering cohort of dedicated clinicians and scientists have continued to make important progress over time to uncover the neurobiological correlates of pathological dissociation.  Here, Dr. Lebois will present the stories behind some of the science, alongside the neurobiological findings themselves.  Ultimately, a biological understanding of DID lends credence to the validity of people’s lived experience – and placing the research in its historical context may help demystify some of the controversy.

About the Speaker 

Dr. Lauren Lebois is a cognitive neuroscientist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She jointly directs the Dissociative Disorders and Trauma Research Program at McLean Hospital, focusing on the neurobiology of dissociation in trauma-spectrum disorders with funding from the National Institute of Mental Health. Her research examines the role of learning and plasticity in emotion, and brain-behaviour correlates of dissociation. Dr. Lebois is the former chair of the Scientific Committee for the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) and co-directs the Initiative for Integrated Trauma Research, Care, and Training at McLean Hospital. She has received multiple awards, including McLean Hospital’s Alfred Pope Award, ISSTD’s Morton Prince Award and Presidential Award of Distinction for her contributions to dissociation research. Dr. Lebois is deeply committed to using her advances in neurobiology, behavior, and treatment to reduce the stigma and improve care for individuals living with PTSD and dissociative identity disorder.

This Seminar is free to attend and is open to all.  Registration in advance is required.