Depersonalization and personality in panic disorder.
Lilian Mendoza, Ricard Navinés, José A. Crippa, Ana B. Fagundo, Fernando Gutierrez, Antonio E Nardi, Antonio Bulbena, Manuel Valdés, Rocío Martín‐Santos
Comprehensive Psychiatry 2011 DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2010.09.002 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cross-sectional study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 104 |
| Population | Adult outpatients with panic disorder |
| Measures | Cambridge Depersonalization Scales, Temperament and Character Inventory, Panic and Agoraphobia Scale, Semistructured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (Axis I/II disorders) |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Key findings | Depersonalization symptoms occurred in 48% of panic disorder patients during panic attacks and depersonalization disorder in 20%. The authors report that the self-transcendence trait and greater panic severity were independently associated with depersonalization disorder, and argue these findings support a dosage effect model of depersonalization pathology. |
Abstract
Prevalence and clinical correlates of depersonalization symptoms have been associated with panic disorder. Personality traits might increase the likelihood of experiencing depersonalization symptoms or depersonalization disorder in panic patients. The objectives of this study are to establish the prevalence of depersonalization symptoms during the panic attack and in depersonalization disorder and to examine the personality factors associated with the presence of depersonalization in patients with panic disorder. The sample comprised 104 consecutive adult outpatients with panic disorder, diagnosed according to the Semistructured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (Axis I/II disorders). Participants were assessed with the Cambridge Depersonalization Scales, the Temperament and Character Inventory, and the Panic and Agoraphobia Scale. Forty-eight percent of the sample had depersonalization symptoms during the panic attack, whereas 20% of patients had a depersonalization disorder. Women presented more depersonalization disorders than did men (P = .036). Patients with panic disorder with depersonalization disorder had a more severe panic disorder (P = .002). Logistic regression analysis showed that self-transcendence trait (odds ratio, 1.089; 95% confidence interval, 1.021-1.162; P = .010) and severity of panic (odds ratio, 1.056; 95% confidence interval, 1.005-1.110; P = .032) were independently associated with depersonalization disorder. A high prevalence of depersonalization symptoms and depersonalization disorder was confirmed in patients with panic disorder, supporting a dosage effect model for understanding depersonalization pathology. Self-transcendence trait and severity of panic disorder were reported as risk factors for depersonalization disorder.
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 |
| 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 |
| 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) used in a naturalistic group setting is associated with unintended improvements in depression and anxiety. Adults who used 5-MeO-DMT in a group setting with structured procedures | 2019 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 362 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 3
- Depersonalization/derealization and its relationship to mood and anxiety disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R). Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology July 2026
- Dissociative symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder and its relationship with temperament-character features Journal of Biotechnology and Strategic Health Research April 30, 2022
- No Time Like the Present: Thinking About the Past and the Future Is Related to State Dissociation Among Individuals With High Levels of Psychopathological Symptoms. Frontiers in Psychology 2018
Cites 8
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- Is depersonalization disorder initiated by illicit drug use any different? A survey of 394 adults. The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry October 1, 2009
- Depersonalization, mindfulness, and childhood trauma. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease August 2007
and 3 more in the library