title: Prevalence, correlates, and predictors of depersonalization experiences in the German general population.
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.
authors: Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Untere Zahlbacher Street 8, Mainz 55131, Germany. michal@psychosomatik.klinik.uni-mainz.de
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Michal
authors: Jörg
authors: J
authors: Wiltink
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Subic-Wrana
authors: Rüdiger
authors: R
authors: Zwerenz
authors: Inka
authors: I
authors: Tuin
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: Lichy
authors: Elmar
authors: E
authors: Brähler
authors: Manfred E
authors: ME
authors: Beutel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires