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Inducing dissociation and schizotypal experiences through "vision-deforming" glasses
S B Selwyn Renard1, R J C Rafaele Huntjens1, G H M Marieke Pijnenborg2
1Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Consciousness and Cognition
|September 14, 2018
Summary
Vision deforming glasses induced derealization without depersonalization, but not without schizotypal experiences. This finding helps understand comorbidity between dissociative and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Derealization, depersonalization, and schizotypal experiences are distinct yet often confused.
- Dissociation is key to understanding the uniqueness of these experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally induce derealization without depersonalization or schizotypal experiences.
- To investigate the dissociability of derealization, depersonalization, and schizotypy.
Main Methods:
- Healthy participants were exposed to one of four conditions: stroboscopic light, deforming glasses, combined manipulation, or no manipulation.
- A neutral video was used as stimuli across all conditions.
Main Results:
- Deforming glasses successfully induced derealization without depersonalization.
- Deforming glasses did not dissociate derealization from schizotypal experiences.
- Stroboscopic light had no significant effect.
Conclusions:
- Vision deforming glasses can dissociate derealization from depersonalization, but not from state schizotypy.
- The link between derealization and schizotypal experiences may explain comorbidity between dissociative and schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
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