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Depersonalization in patients with persecutory delusions.
Emma Cernis1, Graham Dunn, Helen Startup
1*Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, Warneford Hospital, UK; †Centre for Biostatistics, Institute of Population Health, Manchester University, UK; ‡Research and Development Department, Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Sussex Education Centre, Mill View Hospital, Hove, UK; and §Faculty of Medicine, Academic Department of Psychiatry, University of Southampton, UK.
Depersonalization experiences are common in patients with persecutory delusions, correlating with increased paranoia and worry. These findings suggest depersonalization may contribute to the development of paranoid thoughts.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Delusions often stem from attempts to interpret anomalous experiences.
- Depersonalization, a form of anomalous experience, is understudied in relation to persecutory delusions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess depersonalization in patients with persecutory delusions.
- To examine the association between depersonalization, paranoia, and worry.
Main Methods:
- Fifty patients with persecutory delusions completed questionnaires.
- Measures included depersonalization, psychotic symptoms, and worry levels.
Main Results:
- 60% of patients reported frequent depersonalization symptoms.
- More depersonalization experiences correlated with higher paranoia and worry.
- Depersonalization mediated the relationship between worry and paranoia.
Conclusions:
- Depersonalization is prevalent in persecutory delusions and linked to paranoia severity.
- Worry may induce depersonalization, contributing to paranoid ideation.
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