Interpretative phenomenological analysis of depersonalization and derealization statesin clinical and nonclinical groups

Alterations in consciousness are common experiences in healthy individuals as well as in patients with various mental disorders. Depersonalization (a sense of detachment from one’s mind or body) and derealization (experiencing the outside world as dream-like or unreal) can have different intensity and appear in different situations, for example during meditation, religious practices or during intense workout.

These states can also be a natural reaction to a traumatic experience, when the mind separates from the overwhelming events and feelings as a form of dealing with the trauma.

Some forms of depersonalization and derealization take on a chronic form, they are significantly dysfunctional, cause distress, and are regarded as pathological. However, there are no studies comparing both healthy and pathological states of depersonalization/derealization, or their relationship to trauma, and ways in which individuals experience them.

As part of this project, structured clinical interviews will be conducted with 40 healthy participants (people who practice extreme sports and members of charismatic prayer groups) and with 100 psychiatric patients suffering from a variety of mental disorders, to analyze and compare their personal experiences of depersonalization and derealization.

Such studies are necessary to help clinicians recognize and diagnose these different states of consciousness, which may indicate trauma-related disorders. As a consequence, it will lead to a better diagnosis and referral of patients to treatment.