Depersonalization and Mood Changes in Schizophrenia

It has been suggested in a previous paper (Sedman and Reed, 1963) that depersonalization phenomena were most likely to occur in patients with premorbid insecure personalities during a phase of depressive mood. Schneider (1958), includes under the term Insecure Personalities both Anankasts (obsessionals) and Sensitives. In such individuals there is “… a nagging inner uncertainty under various forms of compensatory or over-compensatory activity, especially where the inferiority feelings are of a physical or social character”. The purpose of this paper is to examine further the suggested linking of depersonalization, insecure personality and mood change in schizophrenia.