Depersonalization
A New Look at a Neglected Syndrome

This book deals with depersonalization from a wide range of perspectives covering historical, conceptual, clinical, trans-cultural, pharmacological and neurobiological factors.

Mauricio Sierra (Author)

9781107406391, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 16 August 2012

184 pages
23.4 x 15.6 x 1 cm, 0.27 kg

Review of the hardback: '… contains much to interest and educate all who contend with the condition, whether as patient or therapist.' The British Journal of Psychiatry

Depersonalization is a dissociative disorder, causing alteration in the perception or experience of the self and a detachment from reality. This is a fascinating and clinically relevant phenomenon neglected within psychiatry. Far from being a rare condition, it can be as prevalent as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and frequently occurs in association with other neuropsychiatric conditions. This book is a review of depersonalization, dealing with the subject from a wide range of perspectives and covering historical, conceptual, clinical, trans-cultural, pharmacological and neurobiological factors. It discusses recent neuroimaging studies providing fresh insights into the condition and opening up new opportunities to manage the symptoms with pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic interventions. It will be relevant to psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, as well as primary care practitioners, neurologists and psychiatric nurses.

Contents
Introduction
1. A conceptual history of depersonalization
2. The symptoms of depersonalization: a descriptive psychopathology
3. The depersonalization spectrum: clinical and epidemiological aspects
4. 'Drug induced' depersonalization disorder
5. Psychiatric comorbidity of depersonalization
6. Depersonalization in neurology
7. Transcultural aspects of depersonalization
8. Pharmacological approaches to the treatment of depersonalization disorder
9. Psychological approaches to the treatment of depersonalization disorder
10. The neurobiology of depersonalization: psychophysiological and neuroimaging findings
11. Pulling the threads together: towards a neurobiological understanding of depersonalization
Index.

Subject Areas: Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH]