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Gwyther MPD, Lenggenhager B, Windt JM, Aspell JE, Ciaunica A. Examining the association between depersonalisation traits and the bodily self in waking and dreaming. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6107. [PMID: 38480797 PMCID: PMC10937666 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56119-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Depersonalisation (DP) is characterized by fundamental alterations to the sense of self that include feelings of detachment and estrangement from one's body. We conducted an online study in healthy participants (n = 514) with DP traits to investigate and quantify the subjective experience of body and self during waking and dreaming, as the vast majority of previous studies focussed on waking experience only. Investigating dreams in people experiencing DP symptoms may help us understand whether the dream state is a 'spared space' where people can temporarily 'retrieve' their sense of self and sense of bodily presence. We found that higher DP traits-i.e. higher scores on the Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale (CDS)-were associated with more frequent dream experiences from an outside observer perspective (r = 0.28) and more frequent dream experiences of distinct bodily sensations (r = 0.23). We also found that people with higher CDS scores had more frequent dream experiences of altered bodily perception (r = 0.24), more frequent nightmares (r = 0.33) and higher dream recall (r = 0.17). CDS scores were negatively correlated with body boundary scores (r = - 0.31) in waking states and there was a negative association between CDS scores and the degree of trust in interoceptive signals (r = - 0.52). Our study elucidates the complex phenomenology of DP in relation to bodily selfhood during waking and dreaming and suggests avenues for potential therapeutic interventions in people with chronic depersonalisation (depersonalisation -derealisation disorder).
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt P D Gwyther
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Bigna Lenggenhager
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Jennifer M Windt
- Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jane E Aspell
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna Ciaunica
- Centre for Philosophy of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, WC1N 3AR, UK
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Potential Targets for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation on Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder. Brain Sci 2022; 12:brainsci12081112. [PMID: 36009174 PMCID: PMC9406113 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12081112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-invasive brain stimulation seems to be beneficial for DPD patients. However, the sites used in previous studies were empirical. Exploring new stimulation locations via functional magnetic resonance imaging may improve the efficacy. OBJECTIVES The objective was to find potential locations for non-invasive brain stimulation on the depersonalization-derealization disorder. METHODS We explored the potential brain surface regions from three pipelines: pipeline 1: activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis (five studies with 36 foci included); pipeline 2: functional connectivity analysis based on DPD-network (76 subjects included); and pipeline 3: functional connectivity analysis based on DPD regions of interest from the meta-analysis. Potential targets were the 10-20 system coordinates for brain surface regions. RESULTS We identified several potential brain surface regions, including the bilateral medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex, superior parietal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex as potential sites. CONCLUSION Our findings of the potential stimulation targets might help clinicians optimize the application of non-invasive brain stimulation therapy in individuals with DPD.
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Ciaunica A, McEllin L, Kiverstein J, Gallese V, Hohwy J, Woźniak M. Zoomed out: digital media use and depersonalization experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3888. [PMID: 35273200 PMCID: PMC8913838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07657-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Depersonalisation is a common dissociative experience characterised by distressing feelings of being detached or 'estranged' from one's self and body and/or the world. The COVID-19 pandemic forcing millions of people to socially distance themselves from others and to change their lifestyle habits. We have conducted an online study of 622 participants worldwide to investigate the relationship between digital media-based activities, distal social interactions and peoples' sense of self during the lockdown as contrasted with before the pandemic. We found that increased use of digital media-based activities and online social e-meetings correlated with higher feelings of depersonalisation. We also found that the participants reporting higher experiences of depersonalisation, also reported enhanced vividness of negative emotions (as opposed to positive emotions). Finally, participants who reported that lockdown influenced their life to a greater extent had higher occurrences of depersonalisation experiences. Our findings may help to address key questions regarding well-being during a lockdown, in the general population. Our study points to potential risks related to overly sedentary, and hyper-digitalised lifestyle habits that may induce feelings of living in one's 'head' (mind), disconnected from one's body, self and the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Ciaunica
- Centre for Philosophy of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Institute of Philosophy, University of Porto, via Panoramica s/n, 4150-564, Porto, Portugal.
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, WC1N 3AR, UK.
| | - Luke McEllin
- University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
- Department of Cognitive Science, Social Mind Center, Central European University, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julian Kiverstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 5, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vittorio Gallese
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39, 43121, Parma, Italy
| | - Jakob Hohwy
- Cognition and Philosophy Lab, Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash Centre for Consciousness & Contemplative Studies, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mateusz Woźniak
- Department of Cognitive Science, Social Mind Center, Central European University, Vienna, Austria.
- Cognition and Philosophy Lab, Department of Philosophy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
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Patil I, Larsen EM, Kichic R, Gleichgerrcht E. Moral Cognition About Harm in Anxiety Disorders: The Importance of Experienced Emotion. Psychol Rep 2020; 124:2501-2523. [PMID: 33028157 DOI: 10.1177/0033294120964134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Recent work has shown that emotional arousal influences decision-making in sacrificial moral dilemmas, with heightened levels of arousal associated with increased aversion to committing moral transgressions to maximize utilitarian outcomes. Patients with anxiety disorders experience pathologically heightened states of arousal and thus may be expected to exhibit reduced utilitarian responding on such dilemmas. Extant evidence has been mixed, however, regarding whether anxious patients differ in their moral decisions from controls, and no study has conducted a careful examination of emotions experienced during decision-making. We administered sacrificial moral dilemmas to a cohort of 95 patients from across the spectrum of anxiety disorders to test whether they differed from matched controls on a) utilitarian decision-making, and b) ratings of experienced emotion during the moral deliberative process. Results showed no group differences between patients and controls on endorsement of utilitarian sacrificial action or on reported experience of emotionality during the experiment. Additionally, exploratory analysis revealed that specific emotions were correlated with utilitarian judgments. These results are in line with the Dual Process Theory model's prediction that decreased utilitarian responding will be concomitant with an increased emotional arousal. Our findings support past work indicating that moral cognition is intact in anxiety disorders despite the emotional dysregulation characteristic of anxious psychopathology. Future work would benefit from the use of process-dissociation techniques to further clarify whether emotional or cognitive processes may differ in anxiety disorders during moral cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indrajeet Patil
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Humans and Machines, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emmett M Larsen
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Rafael Kichic
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Tuineag M, Therman S, Lindgren M, Rouanet M, Nahon S, Bertrand L, Saury S, Renaud S, Beaulieu S, Linnaranta O. Dissociative symptoms as measured by the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale in patients with a bipolar disorder. J Affect Disord 2020; 263:187-192. [PMID: 31818776 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS) characterizes the quality, frequency, and duration of dissociative symptoms. While the psychometric properties of the CDS have been evaluated in primary dissociative disorder, this has been insufficiently addressed among other psychiatric patient groups such as patients with a bipolar disorder (BD). METHODS Outpatients with variable mood (n = 73) responded to a survey that assessed dissociative symptoms and other characteristics. We used factor analysis and McDonald's omega to evaluate psychometric properties of the CDS, and correlations with other characteristics. RESULTS Previously suggested multifactorial models of the CDS were not supported, but the single-dimensional model fit both dichotomized (p = 0.31, CFI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.02, ECV 70%) and trichotomized CDS responses (p = 0.06, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.04, ECV 47%). The CDS showed high internal consistency (ω = 0.96). CDS factor scores correlated with symptom severity on the Quick Inventory for Depressive Symptoms (QIDS-SR-16) (ρ = 0.59), the Social Phobia Inventory (ρ = 0.52), the American Association of Psychiatry Severity measure for Panic Disorders (ρ = 0.46), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (ρ = 0.44), and the Trauma Screening Questionnaire (ρ = 0.53). Two abbreviated versions of the CDS, retaining the best 14 or 7 items were proposed. LIMITATIONS The sample size remained moderate. CONCLUSIONS The CDS is a psychometrically sound, unidimensional measure with clinical impact to detect and characterize dissociative symptoms in BD patients. Establishing the reliability and validity of the abbreviated scales for screening necessitates further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tuineag
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada; Mood disorders Psychopharmacology Unit, University of Toronto, 399 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Sebastian Therman
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, PL 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maija Lindgren
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, PL 30, 00271 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Manon Rouanet
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Sara Nahon
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada; University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7JX, United Kingdom
| | - Lia Bertrand
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada
| | - Sybille Saury
- Bipolar disorders clinic, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Suzanne Renaud
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada; Bipolar disorders clinic, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Serge Beaulieu
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada; Bipolar disorders clinic, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada
| | - Outi Linnaranta
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 1033 Pine Avenue West Montreal, QC, H3A 1A1, Canada; Bipolar disorders clinic, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard Montreal, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada
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Ahmed S, Ting DH. The shopping list in goal-directed shopping: scale development and validation. SERVICE INDUSTRIES JOURNAL 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/02642069.2018.1532997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sohel Ahmed
- Department of Business and Economics, Mazoon University College, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
| | - Ding Hooi Ting
- Department of Management & Humanities, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Perak, Malaysia
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Abstract
Depersonalization is defined as persistent or recurrent episodes of feeling detached or estranged from a sense of self and the world. This study addressed the primary question: Do nonclinical individuals who endorse high symptomatic depersonalization have inherently more intense emotional responses, along with more childhood adversity and past trauma? In this IRB approved study, participants who met clinical levels of depersonalization (n = 43, 16.3%) were compared to a group without clinical levels of depersonalization (n = 221, 83.7%). Adverse childhood experiences, adult traumatic events, emotional overexcitability, coping strategies under stress, and anxiety were examined in both groups. The variables to assess depersonalization severity included the Dissociative Experience Scale-II, Cambridge Depersonalization Scale, and Multiscale Dissociation Inventory. The results indicated that clinical levels of depersonalization were identified in 16.3% of the sample. The high depersonalization group had significantly more adverse childhood experiences, in particular, emotional abuse and neglect. They also experienced more adult traumatic events, higher levels of anxiety, more emotional overexcitability, and they employed a less adaptive emotion-oriented coping strategy under stress. It is recommended that treating depersonalization symptoms should include examining childhood adversity, especially emotional abuse and neglect. Based on study findings, emotion regulation skills should be promoted to help individuals with elevated depersonalization manage their emotion-oriented coping strategies, anxiety, and emotional overexcitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Thomson
- a Department of Kinesiology , California State University , Northridge , California , USA
| | - S Victoria Jaque
- a Department of Kinesiology , California State University , Northridge , California , USA
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Frewen PA, Brown MFD, Steuwe C, Lanius RA. Latent profile analysis and principal axis factoring of the DSM-5 dissociative subtype. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2015; 6:26406. [PMID: 25854673 PMCID: PMC4390557 DOI: 10.3402/ejpt.v6.26406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A dissociative subtype has been recognized based on the presence of experiences of depersonalization and derealization in relation to DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the dissociative subtype has not been assessed in a community sample in relation to the revised DSM-5 PTSD criteria. Moreover, the 20-item PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) currently does not assess depersonalization and derealization. METHOD We therefore evaluated two items for assessing depersonalization and derealization in 557 participants recruited online who endorsed PTSD symptoms of at least moderate severity on the PCL-5. RESULTS A five-class solution identified two PTSD classes who endorsed dissociative experiences associated with either 1) severe or 2) moderate PTSD symptom severity (D-PTSD classes). Those in the severe dissociative class were particularly likely to endorse histories of childhood physical and sexual abuse. A principal axis factor analysis of the symptom list identified six latent variables: 1) Reexperiencing, 2) Emotional Numbing/Anhedonia, 3) Dissociation, 4) Negative Alterations in Cognition & Mood, 5) Avoidance, and 6) Hyperarousal. CONCLUSIONS The present results further support the presence of a dissociative subtype within the DSM-5 criteria for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Frewen
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada;
| | - Matthew F D Brown
- Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Carolin Steuwe
- Research Department, Clinic of Psychiatry, Ev. Krankenhaus Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Ruth A Lanius
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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