BACKGROUND: Depersonalisation disorder is a poorly understood and underresearched syndrome. AIMS: To carry out a large and comprehensive clinical and psychopathological survey of a series of patients who made contact with a research clinic. METHOD: A total of 204 consecutive eligible referrals were included: 124 had a full psychiatric examination using items of the Present State Examination to define depersonalisation/derealisation and 80 had either a telephone interview (n=22) or filled out a number of self-report questionnaires. Cases assessed were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: The mean age of onset was 22.8 years; early onset was associated with greater severity. There was a slight male preponderance. The disorder tended to be chronic and persistent. Seventy-one per cent met DSM-IV criteria for primary depersonalisation disorder. Depersonalisation symptom scores correlated with both anxiety and depression and a past history of these disorders was commonly reported. 'Dissociative amnesia' was not prominent. CONCLUSIONS: Depersonalisation disorder is a recognisable clinical entity but appears to have significant comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Research into its aetiology and treatment is warranted.
BACKGROUND: Depersonalisation disorder is a poorly understood and underresearched syndrome. AIMS: To carry out a large and comprehensive clinical and psychopathological survey of a series of patients who made contact with a research clinic. METHOD: A total of 204 consecutive eligible referrals were included: 124 had a full psychiatric examination using items of the Present State Examination to define depersonalisation/derealisation and 80 had either a telephone interview (n=22) or filled out a number of self-report questionnaires. Cases assessed were diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS: The mean age of onset was 22.8 years; early onset was associated with greater severity. There was a slight male preponderance. The disorder tended to be chronic and persistent. Seventy-one per cent met DSM-IV criteria for primary depersonalisation disorder. Depersonalisation symptom scores correlated with both anxiety and depression and a past history of these disorders was commonly reported. 'Dissociative amnesia' was not prominent. CONCLUSIONS: Depersonalisation disorder is a recognisable clinical entity but appears to have significant comorbidity with anxiety and depression. Research into its aetiology and treatment is warranted.
Authors: Matthias Michal; Eva Duven; Sebastian Giralt; Michael Dreier; Kai W Müller; Julia Adler; Manfred E Beutel; Klaus Wölfling Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2014-09-09 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Anika Sierk; Judith K Daniels; Antje Manthey; Jelmer G Kok; Alexander Leemans; Michael Gaebler; Jan-Peter Lamke; Johann Kruschwitz; Henrik Walter Journal: J Psychiatry Neurosci Date: 2018-08 Impact factor: 6.186