The Relationship between Interpersonal Abuse and Depersonalization Experiences

• Aponte-Soto, Michell ^[1] ; Martinez-Taboas, Alfonso ^[1] ; Vélez-Pastrana, María C. ^[1] ; González, Rafael A. ^[2]
  1. [1] Carlos Albizu University

     Carlos Albizu University

     Estados Unidos

     
  2. [2] Imperial College London

     Imperial College London

     Reino Unido

     
• Localización: Revista Puertorriqueña de Psicología, ISSN-e 1946-2026, Vol. 30, Nº. 1, 2019, págs. 48-59
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Depersonalization is a common psychiatric symptom that remains understudied amongst Latino/Hispanic populations. There is evidence that depersonalization is relatively common among persons with a history of psychological trauma and interpersonal abuse. In this study we compared the frequency of depersonalization experiences in two group of adults: 40 patients with a history of interpersonal abuse (HIA), and a control community group (CCG) of 40 adults without HIA. Results indicated that the patients with HIA showed significantly higher scores on the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS). Moreover, 25% of the HIA group (vs. none of the CCG) obtained a score (>70) in the CDS that suggests the presence of a Depersonalization Disorder. Moreover, as the frequency of abusive experiences increased, the scores on the CDS concomitantly increased, in many cases to clinical levels. Consistent with other international studies, we found a significant correlation between depersonalization and depressive symptoms as measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Results are consistent with the assertion that interpersonal abuse is intricately related with depersonalization and dissociative symptoms.