Effectiveness of a Constructive Model of Variables related to Depersonalization- Derealization Disorder of University Students

Abstract

The aims of this study were to identify the correlation between Depersonalization - Derealization Disorder (DPDR), anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders and to propose a constructive model of anxiety, depression and obsessive- compulsive disorders related to Depersonalization Derealization Disorder of university students. The sample consisted of 344 students (325 female and 19 male), with a mean age of (24.4) years. The study applied the following scales: structured clinical interview for depersonalization-derealization spectrum, Cambridge Depersonalization Scale, Generalised anxiety scale (GAD-7), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Maudsley Obsessional–Compulsive Inventory. Results indicated that obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression played a major role in developing DPDR due to a significant positive effect of these disorders, while anxiety had a weak correlation. The study developed a constructive model of variables related to DPDR based on AMOS software. The results illustrated that the contribution of obsessive-compulsive and depression as independent variables in predicting PDRD was 61.8 and 44.9, respectively, while no effect of anxiety was recorded. The findings also developed a model for the causal relationships between anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive influence on DPDR disorder. The results of the causal model test indicated that the obsessive-compulsive variable is hypothesized to be a mediator in influencing the DPDR disorder as it is affected by both anxiety and depression.