Depersonalization, Emotion Embodiment, and Alexithymia in the General Population

People with higher levels of depersonalization—a feeling of being detached from one's own body or mind—tend to have more difficulty identifying and describing their emotions (alexithymia). Using a computerized body-mapping task, individuals with high versus low depersonalization showed different patterns of where they feel emotions in the body. Those with more depersonalization reported more diffuse and less localized bodily sensations for certain high-arousal emotions, such as fear or anger. This suggests that depersonalization does not simply numb all emotions; instead, it may involve an altered, less specific awareness of some intense emotional states.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Introduction: Alterations in emotional experiences have been demonstrated in depersonalization-derealization disorder (DPD), typically highlighting a blunting of emotions and decreased ability to recognize and name emotions (i.e., alexithymia). However, less research has focused on how individuals with depersonalization experiences embody emotion states. Therefore, the present study investigated emotional embodiment and alexithymia in a general population sample with high (n = 33) and low (n = 66) levels of depersonalization. Methods: Using a computerized topographical mapping task, the emBODY task, participants indicated where they experience sensations associated with specific emotion states. Results: We found that increased depersonalization was associated with increased alexithymia. Individuals with higher levels of depersonalization showed qualitative differences in bodily sensation maps, including more diffused and less localized embodiment for certain high arousal emotion states. Conclusions: These findings emphasize that individuals with increased levels of depersonalization may not just experience a blanket numbing of emotions, but instead may have increased attunement to certain high arousal emotion states.