Dispositional Traits, Characteristic Adaptations, and Narrative Identity Reconstructions in Individuals With Depersonalization and Derealization

TL;DR

This paper explores how personality traits and life narratives are linked to depersonalization and derealization disorder, revealing differences in traits like psychoticism and themes of isolation.

Contribution

The study introduces novel insights into DPDR by examining personality structures, social support, and personal narratives using network and thematic analyses.

Findings

Individuals with DPDR show distinct personality traits like higher psychoticism and negative affect compared to the general population.

Network modeling reveals dissociative tendencies are interconnected with DPDR traits and psychoticism.

Narratives from DPDR individuals emphasize poor agency, isolation, and disrupted self-identity as key life transitions.

Abstract

Depersonalization and derealization disorder (DPDR) is a debilitating condition. To date, little was known about the role of personality structure and of perceived social support and loneliness in DPDR.

Three studies investigated, respectively: (i) broadband personality traits (five‐factor model), maladaptive trait domains (PID‐5), and perceived support and loneliness in individuals with self‐reported DPDR (N = 160) versus a general population sample (N = 303), using network modeling; (ii) structure and interconnectivity of personality, perceived support and loneliness, and DPDR traits (frequency/duration) in individuals with self‐reported DPDR (N = 160); (iii) characteristic adaptations and narrative identities in individuals with self‐reported DPDR (N = 19), using thematic analysis.

Study 1 found between‐samples differences across several traits, especially psychoticism and negative affect. Differences in networks' global centrality, but not structures or edges, were also found. The graphical model in Study 2 showed a community of dissociative tendencies including DPDR traits and psychoticism. Study 3 highlighted the development of DPDR as a key life transition for those experiencing it, with narratives focusing on feelings of poor agency, isolation, and a disrupted sense of self.

Individual differences in personality characterize DPDR, especially in psychoticism. Implications for theory and research are discussed.

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