According to the author, Sybil is a true story, of a woman possessed by sixteen separate personalities. First published in 1973, written by Flora Rheta Schreiber, an author that became involved in this case by a referral from "Sybil's- psychoanalyst Dr. Cornelia B. Wilburn.
"Sybil Isabel Dorsett- is a pseudonym due to constrains of confidentiality between patient and doctor.
Sybil is a book intended as a written presentation of the history-making case in medical journals of multiple personalities; being of great medical significance because its broad psychological and philosophical implications to the general public.
The book is based on Dr. Wilburn's daily notes, Sybil's essays, and recordings of some sessions that were taped in the course of 2,354 office sessions. Also the author bases some of her observations on Sybil's diaries, letters, family and hospital records, newspapers and records of "Sybil's- hometown during the years her family lived there.
I believe the book manages to shed light on a mental illness that is real and true in some cases, but due to recent information presented mainly by Dr. Robert Rieber at the American Psychological Association meeting on August of 1998 and others, I am inclined to disbelieve some of the content of the book. The book failed to convince me that all of the facts were objective and not subjective in its nature.
Summary of Content.
The story begins with a preface relating to the reader the author' sources for information regarding Sybil, it also contains a simple description of the sixteen personalities, their date of birth, and the hierarchy of the selves.
The book is divided in four parts:.
Part I: Being.
In this chapter, the reader is explained what state of mind Sybil is in before any treatment began. It gives an account in detail of some of the strange behavior that led Sybil into treatment. Then the reader is introduced to three personalities.
Part II: Becoming.