Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder

Overview

• Recurrent episodes in which a person has sensations of unreality of one’s own body or surroundings
• Feelings dominate and interfere with life functioning
• Only diagnosed if primary problem involves depersonalization and derealization
  • Similar symptoms may occur in the context of other disorders, including panic disorder and PTSD

DSM-5 Criteria

• Persistent or recurrent experiences of depersonalization, derealization, or both
• Reality testing is intact
• Symptoms cause significant distress
• Not result of substance us
• Not better explained otherwise

Features

• Cognitive deficits in attention, short-term memory, spatial reasoning
• Easily distractable
• Difficulty absorbing new information
• Reduced emotional responding
• May have dysregulation of HPA axis in brain

Facts and Statistics

• High comorbidity with anxiety and mood disorders
• 1 to 3% of the population
• Onset is typically in adolescence
• Usually runs a lifelong chronic course
• Having a history of trauma makes this disorder more likely to manifest

Treatment

• Research is very scarce
• No systematic research on psychological treatments
• Trial of antidepressant (Prozac) showed no effect above placebo