A critical review of methodological quality in functional neuroimaging studies on dissociative identity disorder
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 14947672 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Ante Schlesselmann (University of Groningen), Ante J Schlesselmann (0000-0002-1207-4483, University of Groningen, corresponding author), Marieke Pijnenborg (University of Groningen), Ineke Wessel (0000-0001-6312-376X, University of Groningen), Vera de Vries (University of Groningen), Rafaele J C Huntjens (0000-0001-6329-9810, University of Groningen), Rafaele Huntjens (University of Groningen) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 113-127 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-02 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Memory (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0965-8211 • E-ISSN: 1464-0686 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/09658211.2025.2587233 |
| PMID | 41313262 |
| OpenAlex | W4416793959 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 53 |
Background: Dissociative identity disorder remains contested. The debate hinges on whether memories carry over between identity states and whether those states are truly distinct, but most evidence rests on self report rather than direct memory tests. Neuroimaging has been advanced as an indirect, non self-report approach by scanning individuals with DID in different identity states and comparing them with simulators or other groups. Objective: To evaluate how studies that scan people with DID in more than one identity state inform the core memory claims of DID, by assessing their methodological quality. Methods: Systematically reviewing studies from the past 40 years, quality was assessed using GRADE criteria and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results: Of the nine studies reviewed, many lacked specific aims and only one stated clear hypotheses throughout. The results further indicated several concerns related to diagnostic comorbidity, and absence of clinical comparisons, reverse inference, and post hoc reasoning. Conclusions: On current evidence, functional imaging across identity states does not support firm claims about identity fragmentation or inter identity amnesia, nor does it decide between trauma based and sociocognitive accounts. Methodological refinement and direct tests of memory transfer are needed for progress
Dissociative identity disorder · False Memory · Functional neuroimaging · Neuroimaging · Identity, Memory, and Therapy · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments · Traumatic Brain Injury Research
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Grade
Power failure
The Pico strategy for the research question construction and evidence search
The PRISMA 2020 statement
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Procedural memory in dissociative identity disorder
The trauma model of dissociation
Abductive reasoning in cognitive neuroscience
Reality versus fantasy
Multiple identity enactments and multiple personality disorder
Evaluation of the evidence for the trauma and fantasy models of dissociation
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |