Depersonalization

Depersonalization, a dissociative disorder marked by altered self-perception and detachment from reality, is as common as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder yet often overlooked in psychiatry. This book reviews the condition from historical, conceptual, clinical, transcultural, pharmacological, and neurobiological angles. Recent neuroimaging studies offer new insights, opening opportunities for pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic symptom management. The work is relevant to psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, primary care practitioners, neurologists, and psychiatric nurses.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Depersonalization is a dissociative disorder, causing alteration in the perception or experience of the self and a detachment from reality. This is a fascinating and clinically relevant phenomenon neglected within psychiatry. Far from being a rare condition, it can be as prevalent as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and frequently occurs in association with other neuropsychiatric conditions. This book is a review of depersonalization, dealing with the subject from a wide range of perspectives and covering historical, conceptual, clinical, trans-cultural, pharmacological and neurobiological factors. It discusses recent neuroimaging studies providing fresh insights into the condition and opening up new opportunities to manage the symptoms with pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions. It will be relevant to psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, as well as primary care practitioners, neurologists and psychiatric nurses.