Self-induced depersonalization syndrome
Abstract
The author reports two cases in which depersonalization occurred during the waking consciousness of individuals who had engaged in meditative techniques designed to alter consciousness. Psychiatrists should be aware of this phenomenon, as the number organizations in the "consciousness movement" is increasing, and should ask people manifesting depersonalization about any involvement in activities leading to altered states of consciousness. In some cases it might be appropriate to refer such patients to responsible groups that teach altered consciousness by meditation as an egosyntonic desirable state. The author cautions against the use of phenothiazines in cases where depersonalization is a prominent feature.
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“‘‘After gaining some trust in me, he confided that some of the episodes he experienced represented to him a sort of fusion with the cosmos’’ (Kennedy, 1976, p. 1327).”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Kennedy, R. B.
- Corresponding author
- R B Kennedy
- Venue
- American Journal of Psychiatry
- Published
- 1976-11-01
- Volume
- 133
- Issue
- 11
- Pages
- 1326-1328
- ISSN
- 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
- 1535-7228
- OpenAlex
- W167773107
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Paranormal Experiences and Beliefs
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Mental Health and Psychiatry
- Keywords
- depersonalization, altered states of consciousness, meditation, phenothiazines, psychiatric differential diagnosis
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affective Symptoms, Anxiety, Consciousness, Depersonalization, Humans, Male, Phenothiazines, Relaxation Therapy, Antipsychotic Agents, Wakefulness, Yoga
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