What Is Derealization?
8. How Is Derealization Diagnosed?
One episode of derealization is not necessarily cause for alarm, particularly if there is a clear, one-time trigger. The doctor first attempts to rule out other causes, such as medication, or an underlying condition, such as schizophrenia. This precaution keeps the doctor from treating derealization when it’s a symptom and not actually the problem itself.
When derealization is consistent, however, a diagnosis is necessary to formulate a treatment plan. A diagnosis requires the persistent experience of dissociation that the patient recognizes as a distortion of reality. The derealization must also cause significant distress and interrupt the person’s ability to function well at work or in daily life to result in a diagnosis.
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