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Anxiety and Depersonalization and Derealization Experiences

David Trueman

Psychological Reports February 1, 1984 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1984.54.1.91 (opens in new tab)

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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.”

Comparable studies

Other cross-sectional and survey studies on anxiety, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Psychological flexibility mediates the relations between acute psychedelic effects and subjective decreases in depression and anxiety. International sample of people who reported having used a psychedelic 2020 Cross-sectional survey n = 985
The Challenging Experience Questionnaire: Characterization of challenging experiences with psilocybin mushrooms Internet survey respondents reporting challenging experiences with psilocybin 2016 Questionnaire development and validation
Psychedelics and Mental Health: A Population Study Adult population in the United States 2013 Cross-sectional survey n = 130,152
The Role of Mindfulness and Psychological Flexibility in Somatization, Depression, Anxiety, and General Psychological Distress in a Nonclinical College Sample Ethnically diverse, nonclinical sample of college undergraduates (76% female) 2011 Observational cross-sectional survey n = 494
Ecstasy/MDMA attributed problems reported by novice, moderate and heavy recreational users Ecstasy users who participated in a WWW study of recreational drug use 2002 Cross-sectional survey n = 282

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