Depersonalization
LAURENT S. LEHMANN M.D.1
1 Psychiatrist, Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, San Antonio, Tex.
The author presents three cases that demonstrate the phenomenon of depersonalization as a psychological defense in both neurotic and psychotic clinical situations. Organic, general psychiatric, and psychoanalytic theories of the etiology of depersonalization are discussed, along with suggestions for treatment and future research. The author sees depersonalization as an indicator of intrapersonal processes in a variety of clinical situations rather than being pathognomic for a particular diagnosis.
