title: Depersonalization and personality in panic disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevalence and clinical correlates of depersonalization symptoms have been associated with panic disorder. Personality traits might increase the likelihood of experiencing depersonalization symptoms or depersonalization disorder in panic patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study are to establish the prevalence of depersonalization symptoms during the panic attack and in depersonalization disorder and to examine the personality factors associated with the presence of depersonalization in patients with panic disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised 104 consecutive adult outpatients with panic disorder, diagnosed according to the Semistructured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (Axis I/II disorders). Participants were assessed with the Cambridge Depersonalization Scales, the Temperament and Character Inventory, and the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-eight percent of the sample had depersonalization symptoms during the panic attack, whereas 20% of patients had a depersonalization disorder. Women presented more depersonalization disorders than did men (P = .036). Patients with panic disorder with depersonalization disorder had a more severe panic disorder (P = .002). Logistic regression analysis showed that self-transcendence trait (odds ratio, 1.089; 95% confidence interval, 1.021-1.162; P = .010) and severity of panic (odds ratio, 1.056; 95% confidence interval, 1.005-1.110; P = .032) were independently associated with depersonalization disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high prevalence of depersonalization symptoms and depersonalization disorder was confirmed in patients with panic disorder, supporting a dosage effect model for understanding depersonalization pathology. Self-transcendence trait and severity of panic disorder were reported as risk factors for depersonalization disorder.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Ricard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navinés
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crippa
authors.forename: Ana B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Fagundo
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Antonio E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Nardi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulbena
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valdés
authors.forename: Rocío
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martín-Santos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003861:Depersonalization / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients / Q000523:psychology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index