Levels of Depersonalization and Derealization Reported by Recovered and Non-recovered Borderline Patients Over 20 Years of Prospective Follow-up.
Ravi Shah, Christina M Temes, Frances R Frankenburg, Garrett M Fitzmaurice, Mary C Zanarini
Journal of Trauma & Dissociation January 30, 2020 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2020.1719259 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Prospective longitudinal follow-up study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 290 |
| Population | Borderline inpatients |
| Duration | 20 years of prospective follow-up with 10 follow-up interviews |
| Measures | Dysphoric Affect Scale (DAS) |
| Keywords | Humans Longitudinal studies Follow-up studies Prospective studies Depersonalization Borderline personality disorder Adolescent Adult Female Dissociation Derealization |
| Key findings | Recovered borderline patients had significantly lower baseline scores on all three depersonalization/derealization items (62–63%) than non-recovered patients, and scores in both groups decreased significantly over 20 years of prospective follow-up. The authors suggest these symptoms are strongly associated with BPD recovery status. |
Abstract
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious psychiatric illness, and it is often associated with dissociative symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess the course of depersonalization and derealization symptoms in recovered and non-recovered borderline patients over 20 years of prospective follow-up. The Dysphoric Affect Scale (DAS) - a 50-item self-report measure was administered to 290 borderline inpatients at baseline, and the remaining participants (85%) at 10 follow-up interviews conducted over 20 years. The level of depersonalization and derealization experienced by borderline patients was assessed using three items (feeling unreal, feeling completely numb, and feeling like people and things aren't real) from the DAS. The patients who recovered from BPD reported significantly lower scores in all three inner states (62 - 63%) at baseline compared to those patients who did not recover. Furthermore, scores of recovered and non-recovered groups decreased significantly in all three inner states studied over 20 years of prospective follow-up. Overall, these results suggest that the severity of depersonalization and derealization symptoms decreased significantly over 20 years of prospective follow-up and had a strong association with BPD recovery status.
Citations in the library
Cites 2
- Depersonalization and derealization in self-report and clinical interview: The spectrum of borderline personality disorder, dissociative disorders, and healthy controls Journal of Trauma & Dissociation September 28, 2016
- Prevalence and childhood antecedents of Depersonalization Syndrome in a UK Birth Cohort Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology December 23, 2010