Anxiety and Depersonalization and Derealization Experiences
Psychological Reports February 1, 1984 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1984.54.1.91 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional questionnaire study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 221 |
| Population | Undergraduate students |
| Measures | IPAT Anxiety Scale |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Key findings | Undergraduates reporting depersonalization or derealization scored higher on anxiety than those not reporting these experiences, with the highest scores among those reporting both. Anxiety correlated positively with the number of depersonalization episodes and the frequency and number of derealization episodes, and negatively with diminution of these experiences. The authors propose these experiences reflect a broader "phobic-anxiety depersonalization syndrome." |
Abstract
The present study was designed to assess whether individuals reporting experiences of depersonalization or derealization experience higher levels of anxiety than those subjects not reporting these experiences. 221 undergraduates volunteered to complete questionnaires on depersonalization and derealization and the IPAT Anxiety Scale. Analysis indicated that subjects experiencing depersonalization or derealization scored higher on the anxiety scale than those not reporting these experiences, while subjects who reported both depersonalization and derealization scored the highest. Significant positive correlations between number of depersonalization episodes, and frequency and number of derealization episodes, and significant negative correlations between level of diminution of depersonalization or derealization and reported over-all anxiety score were obtained. The results were explained using the model proposing that individuals experiencing continued depersonalization or derealization episodes suffer from a more generic anxiety or phobic-anxiety based disorder labeled “phobic-anxiety depersonalization syndrome.”