Symptom profiles in depersonalization and anxiety disorders: an analysis of the Beck Anxiety Inventory.
Steffen Nestler, Emma-Louise Jay, Mauricio Sierra, Anthony S David
Psychopathology 2015 DOI: 10.1159/000367600 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Secondary data analysis Longitudinal Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 631 |
| Population | Patients with depersonalization disorder (n = 106) and patients with a variety of anxiety disorders (n = 525) |
| Measures | Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Key points | The depersonalization disorder group had a lower overall Beck Anxiety Inventory score than the combined anxiety disorders group. After controlling for overall severity, age, and gender, the depersonalization group scored significantly lower on the panic subscale, marginally lower on the autonomic subscale, and significantly higher on the neurophysiological subscale. The authors argue these differences suggest similar cognitive components but divergent physiological experiences between depersonalization and anxiety disorders. |
Abstract
Depersonalization disorder (DPD) entails distressing alterations in self-experiencing. However, it has long been recognized that depersonalisation symptoms occur in other disorders, particularly anxiety and panic. One strand of research proposes that depersonalization phenomenology arises through altered autonomic arousal in response to stress. We sought to examine profiles of anxiety symptoms through a secondary data analysis of individual items and factor subscales on the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), comparing two relatively large patient samples with DPD or with a variety of anxiety conditions, respectively. The DPD sample (n = 106) had a lower overall BAI score than the combined anxiety disorders group (n = 525). After controlling for this as well as for potential confounders such as age and gender, the DPD group presented significantly lower scores on the panic subscale, marginally lower scores on the autonomic subscale and significantly higher scores on the neurophysiological subscale of the BAI. These differences imply similarities between the cognitive components of DPD and anxiety disorders while physiological experiences diverge. The findings encourage future research looking at direct physiological measures and longitudinal designs to confirm the mechanisms underlying different clinical manifestations of anxiety.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- Depersonalization August 13, 2009
- Unpacking the depersonalization syndrome: an exploratory factor analysis on the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale Psychological Medicine October 1, 2005
- Depersonalisation disorder: a contemporary overview. CNS Drugs 2004
- Anxiety and Depersonalization and Derealization Experiences Psychological Reports February 1, 1984