title: [Depersonalisation/derealization - clinical picture, diagnostics and therapy].
abstract: The present state of knowledge about depersonalization (DP) and derealization (DR) is reviewed with respect to classification, epidemiology, etiology, and therapy. Mild and transient DP-DR are considered to be common phenomena. The prevalence of depersonalization-derealization disorder (DP-DR-D) is estimated to be approx. 1-2% of the general population in the Western hemisphere. DP-DR-D is probably severely underdiagnosed. DP-DR-D is strongly associated with depression and anxiety disorders. It is suggested that symptoms of DP-DR indicate disease severity and negatively predict therapy outcome. Neurobiological and psychological models have shown that a disordered body schema and emotional and autonomic blunting are essential components of the disorder. Despite the frequency of DPDR and its clinical relevance, there is a considerable lack of empirical research on DP-DR with respect to the health-care situation of depersonalized patients and with regard to treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, D-55131 Mainz, Germany. michal@uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michal
authors.forename: Manfred E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beutel
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001143:Arousal; D001828:Body Image; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans