Multiple personality disorder commonly originates in child abuse and neglect. It has the potential to perpetuate child abuse and promote the transgenerational passage of multiple personality disorder. The mothers in this study are a heterogeneous group. Competent or exceptional mothers were found in 38.7 percent of the study; 16 percent were abusive to the extent of molesting or placing their children at risk; 45.2 percent were compromised or impaired as parents. Workers in the mental health and child abuse fields should cooperate to interrupt this cycle and prevent one of the most frequent causes of child abuse and neglect. 2 tables and 21 references. (Author abstract modified)