The time Collapse-Entrapment model of depersonalization severity.
Psychiatry Research June 9, 2026 Sean P Madden, Mark R Serper
Depersonalization involves feeling detached from one's own thoughts, body, and emotions. The Time Collapse-Entrapment Model proposes that temporal blurring—a subjective blending of past, present, and future—and reduced ability to vividly imagine one's future self increase perceived entrapment, which in turn predicts greater depersonalization severity. In 433 adults (79 with clinically significant depersonalization), those with severe symptoms reported higher psychological distress, absorption, cognitive fusion, entrapment, and temporal blurring, and lower future self-continuity. Discriminant function analysis correctly classified 75.6% of cases. Mediation analyses showed that temporal blurring and reduced vividness of the future self predicted depersonalization severity through perceived entrapment. Targeting temporal and self-continuity disturbances may be a clinically relevant intervention.