Symptom variability in depersonalization-derealization disorder: A latent profile analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Depersonalization-derealization disorder (DDD) presents with varied symptoms, often overlapping with anxiety and dissociative disorders.
• The underlying reasons for this symptom heterogeneity in DDD are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if symptom variability in DDD is due to distinct latent subgroups.
• To identify potential subtypes of DDD based on symptom presentation.

Main Methods:

• Latent profile analysis was employed.
• Psychometric measures of anxiety, depersonalization-derealization, and dissociation were administered to 303 DDD patients.

Main Results:

• Five discrete subgroups of DDD were identified.
• Three subgroups varied by severity, while two moderate-to-severe classes showed differential dissociative symptoms.
• The identified classes differed in non-dissociative symptoms, comorbidities, and precipitating factors, but not significantly in anxiety levels.

Conclusions:

• Evidence suggests three distinct DDD subtypes within the severe range, differentiated by detachment and compartmentalization symptoms.
• Understanding these subtypes may inform research on DDD's etiology, mechanisms, and treatment strategies.