What is Depersonalization Disorder

In Plain Language Version for Lay Reader

What is Depersonalization Disorder (DPD)?

Depersonalization Disorder (DPD) is a condition where people feel disconnected from their own body, self, and surroundings. This might feel like being "spaced out," watching yourself from a distance, or not feeling in control of your own actions. People with DPD may also have strange experiences with their senses and a warped sense of time, like feeling that time is moving slower than it really is.

Time Perception in DPD

• Distorted Time: People with DPD often feel that time moves slower, making them overestimate how long things take. This can add to their feeling of being detached.
• Brain Differences: Brain scans show that people with DPD have different brain activity in areas that process time, like the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex.
• Attention Issues: People with DPD may have trouble focusing their attention, which makes it hard for them to accurately sense time.
• Emotional Impact: High anxiety and stress can change how people with DPD perceive time, making it feel even more distorted.

Why DPD May Happen Alongside Autism

• Sensory Processing: Both DPD and autism involve unusual ways of processing sensory information, suggesting a possible link.
• Similar Symptoms: While DPD and autism are different, they share some symptoms, like feeling detached from oneself and having trouble with emotions and social situations.
• Brain Function: Both conditions may involve changes in brain function and connectivity, although the specific details differ.
• Impact on Daily Life: Having both DPD and autism can make everyday tasks, social interactions, and emotional well-being more challenging.

Research Findings

• Prevalence: About 17% of autistic people have DPD, compared to 2% of non-autistic people.
• Additional Challenges: Autistic people with DPD are more likely to experience higher anxiety and depression, more difficulty with social interaction and communication, and more repetitive behaviors and special interests.
• Need for More Research: Understanding the connection between autism and DPD is complex, and more research is needed to uncover the full picture.

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