Prevalence, correlates, and predictors of depersonalization experiences in the German general population.
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.
Michal
Matthias
M
Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Klinikum der Johannes Gutenberg Universität, Untere Zahlbacher Street 8, Mainz 55131, Germany. michal@psychosomatik.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Wiltink
Jörg
J
Subic-Wrana
Claudia
C
Zwerenz
Rüdiger
R
Tuin
Inka
I
Lichy
Marcel
M
Brähler
Elmar
E
Beutel
Manfred E
ME
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