Depersonalization/Derealization's Impact On Depression
Impact Of Depersonalization On The Course Of Depression: Longitudinal Observations From The Gutenberg Health Study.
Matthias Michal, Jörg Wiltink, Ana N. Tibubos, Philipp S. Wild, Thomas Münzel, Karl Lackner, Norbert Pfeiffer, Jochem König, Alexander Gieswinkel, Manfred Beutel and Jasmin Ghaemi Kerahrodi.
March 2024
Summary:
A large 5-year study (n=10,422) found that depressed patients who also experienced depersonalization/derealization (DP/DR) had significantly worse outcomes than those with depression alone. Only 6.9% of depressed patients with DP/DR achieved remission after 5 years. These patients showed more severe impairments across multiple life domains, including social relationships, physical health, and socioeconomic status.
The findings suggest DP/DR symptoms are an important predictor of poor depression outcomes and should be specifically screened for and addressed in treatment.