ABSTRACT
For people on the autistic spectrum, ordinary life tends to be overwhelming and traumatic—leading to a turning away from external reality and an investment in an alternative inner world populated by guardian entities which operate like intimidating mafia gangs (Rosenfeld, 1971) and do not take kindly to being spoken of. Although dissociative identity disorder (DID) and schizophrenia are usually considered distinct, examples such as that of Jo call this clear diagnostic boundary into question. Another point to consider is that people with DID often have at least one part that might well be considered schizophrenic. Some develop DID not as a result of their autistic spectrum temperament but because of prolonged, repeated, and extreme childhood interpersonal trauma, abuse, and even torture. Those with more complex and severe DID sometimes give the impression of having endured deliberate childhood torture with the intention of creating DID which can function for the benefit of the abusers and their group.
