Which disorder involves experiences of depersonalization/derealization with intact reality testing?

• A. Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
• B. Anxiety Disorders
• C. Psychotic Disorders
• D. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Answer: (A)

The key idea is a disturbance of self and surroundings without losing touch with what is real. In this disorder, people repeatedly feel detached from themselves (depersonalization) or feel that the world around them is unreal (derealization). What sets it apart is that they retain intact reality testing—they recognize that these experiences aren’t real and understand they’re subjective perceptions, not actual events. This contrasts with psychotic disorders, where individuals often lose contact with reality and may have delusions or hallucinations. The depersonalization/derealization experiences are persistent or recurrent and cause distress or impairment, and they aren’t better explained by another condition or substance.