Prevalence, correlates, and predictors of depersonalization experiences in the German general population

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2009 Jul;197(7):499-506. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181aacd94.

Abstract

The survey aimed to investigate the prevalence of depersonalization (DP) experiences, its sociodemographic characteristics and its associations with medical conditions, illness behavior, and potential etiologic factors. A representative face-to-face household survey was conducted. The sample consists of n = 1,287 participants aged 14 to 90 years. Sociodemographic variables, medical conditions, current mental disorders, health care utilization, and childhood adversities were assessed. A total of 1.9% participants scored in the range of clinically significant DP (DP-C) and 9.7% reported at least some impairment through DP (DP-I). DP-C/DP-I were strongly associated with depression and anxiety. After adjustment for depression and anxiety, DP-C and DP-I were independently associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic pulmonary disease, severe pain, and childhood adversities. We conclude that DP is common, it can not be reduced to a negligible variant of depression or anxiety and that more awareness about DP with respect to detection and research is urgently required.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / psychology
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Comorbidity
  • Depersonalization / diagnosis
  • Depersonalization / epidemiology*
  • Depersonalization / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Illness Behavior
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Morbidity
  • Prevalence
  • Probability
  • Surveys and Questionnaires