Baker, Dawn, Hunter, Elaine, Medford, Nicholas, Lawrence, Emma, Patel, Maxine, Senior, Carl, Sierra, Mauricio, Lambert, Michelle V, Phillips, Mary L and David, Anthony S (2003) Depersonalisation disorder: clinical features of 204 cases. British Journal of Psychiatry, 182 (5). pp. 428-433. ISSN 0007-1250

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Abstract

Background
Depersonalisation
disorder is a poorly understood and
under researched syndrome.
Aims To carryout a large and
comprehensive clinical and
psychopathological survey of a series of
patients who made contact with a
research clinic.

Method
A total of 204 consecutive
eligible referralswereincluded:124 had a
fullpsychiatric examinationusingitems of
the Present State Examinationto define
depersonalisation/derealisation and 80
had either a telephoneinterview(n¼22)
or filled out a numberof self-report
questionnaires.Cases assessedwere
diagnosed according to DSM^IV criteria.

Results
The meanage of onsetwas 22.8
years; early onset was associated with
greater severity.Therewas a slightmale
preponderance.The disorder tendedto
be chronic andpersistent.Seventy-one
percentmetDSM^IVcriteria forprimary
depersonalisation disorder.
Depersonalisation symptomscores
correlatedwith both anxietyand
depression and a pasthistoryofthese
disorders was commonly reported.
‘Dissociative amnesia’was not prominent.
Conclusions Depersonalisation
disorder is a recognisable clinical entity but
appears to have significant comorbidity
with anxiety and depression.Researchinto
its aetiology and treatment is warranted.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	Brighton and Sussex Medical School > Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0321 Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Depositing User:	Jonathan Williams
Date Deposited:	20 Aug 2015 12:44
Last Modified:	08 Mar 2017 06:55
URI:	http://srodev.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/56184

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