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Depersonalization Disorder - Depersonalization Disorder Symptom, Cause, Treatment
Depersonalization Disorder (DD) is a dissociative disorder in which sufferers are affected by persistent feelings of depersonalization. The symptoms include a sense of automation, feeling a disconnection from one's body, and difficulty relating oneself to reality Depersonalization is a state in which the individual ceases to perceive the reality of the self or the environment. The patient feels that his or her body is unreal, is changing, or is dissolving; or that he or she is outside of the body. A feeling of detachment from, or being an outside observer of, one's mental processes or body occurs such as the sensation of being in a dream. Depersonalization and Derealization involve similar consciousness states, although psychiatric literature discusses them as two different symptoms. The major distinction is that the first is a distorted awareness of self, while the second is a distorted perception of the physical environment.
Symptoms of Depersonalization Disorder
The primary symptom of depersonalization disorder is a distorted perception of the body. For some people, the symptoms are mild and last for just a short time. For others, however, symptoms can be chronic (ongoing) and last or recur for many years, leading to problems with daily functioning or even to disability. A nuisance, and very distressing to the patient, people with depersonalization disorder represent no risk to society, since their grasp on reality remains intact. Depersonalization disorder often begins in the late teens or early twenties and usually resolves itself by age 30. Some people might fear they are going crazy and might become depressed, anxious, or panickyDepersonalization Disorder is thought that abuse in childhood or trauma in adult life may account for the distinctive cognitive (knowledge-related) profile of patients with depersonalization disorder. These patients have significant difficulties focusing their attention, with spatial reasoning, and with short-term visual and verbal memory.
Causes of Depersonalization Disorder
The dissociative disorders in general, has been regarded as the result of severe abuse in childhood. This can be of a physical, emotional, and/or sexual nature.Depersonalization disorder is little studied, and little is known about its causes and epidemiology.
- Temporal Lobe Seizures
- Atypical forms of migraine and headache
- Schizophrenia
- Panic disorder
- Acute stress disorder
- Transcendental Meditation<./li>
Treatment of Depersonalization Disorder
The best treatment approach depends on the individual and the severity of his or her symptoms, but most likely will include some combination of the following treatment methods:
- Psychotherapy — Psychotherapy, a type of counseling, is the main treatment for dissociative disorders.
- Cognitive therapy — This type of therapy focuses on changing dysfunctional thinking patterns and resulting feelings and behaviors.
- Medication — There is no medication to treat the dissociative disorders themselves. However, a person with a dissociative disorder who also suffers from depression or anxiety might benefit from treatment with a medication such as an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication.
- Family therapy — This helps to teach the family about the disorder and its causes, as well as to help family members recognize symptoms of a recurrence.
- Creative therapies (art therapy, music therapy) — These therapies allow the patient to explore and express his or her thoughts and feelings in a safe and creative way.
- Clinical hypnosis — This is a treatment method that uses intense relaxation, concentration and focused attention to achieve an altered state of consciousness, allowing people to explore thoughts, feelings and memories they might have hidden from their conscious minds. The use of hypnosis for treating dissociative disorders is controversial due to the risk of creating false memories.
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