Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder (DPDR)

Why in News?

Recently, an article described about the Depersonalization and Derealization Disorder (DPDR).

A mental health condition – A state where individuals experience persistent feelings of detachment from themselves or their surroundings.

	Derealization	Depersonalization
Conditions	A sense of feeling of detachment from environment, objects & people in it.	A feeling of detachment from themselves.
Symptoms	Distortion of the distance from the size or shape of objects A heightened awareness of surroundings. Feeling as recent events happened in the distant past.	An inability to recognize or describe emotions. Feeling unconnected to body, mind and feelings. Sense of body and limbs are distorted and head is wrapped in cotton.

Susceptible population – It affects 1 to 2% of the global population, predominantly youngsters.

Symptoms – Sensation of being in a dream or fog.
- The world appears flat, colourless or artificial.
- Distortions in visual perception, with objects appearing either blurred or unusually sharp.
- Sounds that seem either amplified or muted.
- An altered perception of time, which may seem to move too fast or too slow.
The above symptoms can last for hours, days, weeks or even months.
Treatment – It is treatable by addressing the root cause, whether it is anxiety, trauma or depression.