Depersonalization
Disorder is a disorder affecting emotions and behavior. It is characterized
by an change in how an affected individual perceives or experiences
his or her sense of self. The usual sense of one's own reality is
temporarily lost or changed. A feeling of detachment from, or being
an outside observer of, one's mental processes or body occurs such
as the sensation of being in a dream. This phenomena involves:
A lasting or recurring feeling of being detached from the patient's
own body.
Throughout
the experience, the patient knows this is not really the case. Reality
experience is intact.
The phenomenon
causes distress or impairs work, social or personal functioning.
The experience
doesn't occur solely in the course of another mental disorder such
as Acute Stress Disorder,
Panic Disorder, Schizophrenia
or a different Dissociative Disorder. (Fugue
Identity).
The disorder
is not directly caused by a general medical condition or by substance
use, including medications and drugs of abuse.
Associated
Features:
Panic
Disorder
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders have similar symptoms. The clinician, therefore, in
his diagnostic attempt, has to differentiate against the following
disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Temporal Lobe
Seizures ( epilepsy )
Atypical forms of Migraine and Headache
Schizophrenia
Panic Disorder
Acute Stress Disorder
Another Dissociative Disorder - Fugue
- Identity
Drug
of Abuse
Cause:
Depersonalization
is the third most common psychologicical experience, after feelings
of anxiety and feelings of depression, and often occurs after a person
experiences life threatening danger, such as an accident, assault,
or serious illness or injury. Depersonalization disorder has not been
studied widely, and its cause and occurrence in the population are
unknown.
Treatment:
Depersonalization disorder often
disappears without any form of treatment and therefore professional
treatment is usually recommended only if the disorder persists, recurs,
or causes distress. Psychodynamic psychotherapy, behavior therapy,
and hypnosis have been effective for some people. Depersonalization
disorder is often associated with or triggered (precipitated) by other
mental health disorders, which require treatment. Any stresses associated
with the beginning of the depersonalization disorder must also be
addressed.
Counseling
and Psychotherapy [ See
Therapy Section ]:
Psychotherapy
and Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is also very helpful especially
if panic disorder is involved.
Pharmacotherapy
[ See Psychopharmacology
Section ] :
While there are
no proven medications for the treatment of Depesonalization Disorder,
Sedatives and antidepressants help some people,
also the benefit of the use of antianxiety agents clonazepam;
stimulants methylphenidate; and MAOIs phenelzine may assist the patient.
