The time collapse-entrapment model of depersonalization severity

Depersonalization is a disruption in self-awareness marked by a sense of detachment from one's own thoughts, body, sensory experiences, actions, and emotions. While psychological distress and temporal disturbances are known correlates, the mechanisms through which these factors contribute to symptom severity remain poorly understood. The present study proposed and tested the Time Collapse-Entrapment Model of Depersonalization Severity, in which temporal blurring (i.e., a subjective blurring of boundaries between the past, present, and future) and a diminished ability to vividly imagine one's future self contribute to increased perceived entrapment, which in turn predicts greater depersonalization symptom severity.

A total of 433 adults (79 with clinically significant depersonalization severity) completed self-report measures of psychological distress, absorption, future self-continuity, time perspective, cognitive fusion, entrapment, temporal blurring, and depersonalization.

Individuals with clinically significant depersonalization reported significantly higher psychological distress, absorption, cognitive fusion, entrapment, and temporal blurring, and significantly lower future self-continuity. Discriminant function analysis correctly classified 75.6% of cases, with psychological distress, temporal blurring, absorption, and entrapment emerging as the strongest contributors to classification. Mediation analyses indicated that temporal blurring and reduced vividness of the future self predicted depersonalization severity via perceived entrapment.

These findings highlight a novel mechanism through which disruptions in temporal continuity and future self-representation may amplify depersonalization symptoms. More broadly, the results highlight the role of multiple cognitive and experiential processes in depersonalization severity beyond general affective distress. Targeting temporal and self-continuity disturbances may represent a clinically relevant intervention target for individuals with severe depersonalization.