About
Dr. Allison
Ralph B. Allison, M.D. (1931–2025) was a board-certified forensic psychiatrist, life fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, and a pioneering researcher in dissociative identity disorder.
Why This Website Exists
My father, Dr. Ralph B. Allison, was a pioneering psychiatrist who was most famous for his diagnosis and treatment of Multiple Personality Disorders (MPD). Throughout the years his understanding of MPD (later renamed Dissociated Identity Disorder) evolved and his interests also broadened, especially into the relationship of spirituality and mental health.
Many years ago, my father created the original version of this website, and he passed it on to me after his death. I have modernized the site from its original form, and have continued to keep it online to honor his lifetime of research in the area of psychiatry.
Curriculum Vitae
A distinguished career in psychiatry spanning over four decades.
Personal
- Born
- May 13, 1931 — Manila, Philippine Islands
- Died
- May 17, 2025 — Paso Robles, California
- Final Position
- Senior Psychiatrist (Retired Annuitant), California Men's Colony, San Luis Obispo, CA — until December 1, 1995
- Orientation
- Eclectic
Education
- 1952 Occidental College, Los Angeles — B.A.
- 1956 UCLA School of Medicine — M.D.
- 1956–57 Rotating Internship, Highland-Alameda County Hospital, Oakland, CA
- 1959–62 Psychiatric Residency, Stanford Medical Center, Palo Alto
Certification & Awards
- American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Psychiatry), 1966
- Cornelia B. Wilbur Award — International Society for the Study of Dissociation, 1995
Military Service
USAF Flight Surgeon, Keesler AFB, Mississippi, 1957–59
Professional Experience
- 1962–63 Staff Psychiatrist, Santa Clara Co. Mental Health, Palo Alto, CA
- 1964–67 Program Chief, Santa Cruz Co. Mental Health, Santa Cruz, CA
- 1962–78 Private Practice of Psychiatry, Palo Alto & Santa Cruz, CA
- 1978–81 Staff Psychiatrist, Yolo County Mental Health, Broderick, CA
- 1978–81 Private Practice of Forensic Psychiatry, Davis, CA
- 1981–86 Private Practice of Psychiatry, Morro Bay, CA
- 1981–85 Staff Psychiatrist, CMC, San Luis Obispo, CA
- 1985–93 Senior Psychiatrist, CMC, San Luis Obispo, CA
- 1994–95 Retired Annuitant Psychiatrist, CMC, San Luis Obispo, CA
Professional Interests
Professional Organizations
- 1960–96 American Psychiatric Association (Life Fellow)
- 1984– International Society for the Study of Dissociation
- 1985– American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
- 1990–07 American Anthropological Association (Society for the Anthropology of Consciousness)
- 1993–07 Swedish Society of Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis
- 1995– International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- 1995– American College of Forensic Examiners
Selected Teaching & Lectures
- 1977 Panel Moderator, American Psychiatric Assn., Toronto, Canada
- 1977 Guest Lecturer, Universities of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Lund, Swedish Society for Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis
- 1978–79 Workshop Director, "Multiple Personality: Finding & Fusing," APA, Atlanta & Chicago
- 1995 Workshop Instructor, "Working with the Inner Self Helper," 12th Intl. Fall Conference, ISSD, Lake Buena Vista, FL
- 1996 Workshop Instructor, 7th European Congress of Hypnosis, Budapest, Hungary
- 1997 Workshop Instructor, "Dissociation + Imagination," Kube, Yokohama, Yamagata City, Shinjo City, Japan
Community Contributions
- 1964–67 Mental Health Advisory Board member, Santa Cruz County
- 1968–74 Founder and Psychiatric Consultant, Suicide Prevention Service of Santa Cruz County
- 1999–01 Heritage Ranch Owner's Association Director
- 2006–14 HRCSD Director
Explore His Life's Work
Dr. Allison's legacy lives on through his published research, clinical case studies, and insights into the nature of human consciousness.