Derealization
Pronunciation: dee-ree-uh-lih-ZAY-shun
A dissociative experience in which the external world feels unreal, detached, or dreamlike, documented as a symptom distinct from depersonalization.
Full Definition
Derealization refers to a subjective sense that one's surroundings are strange, unreal, foggy, or visually distorted. It is a core feature of Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DPDR) but also appears as a transient symptom in panic disorder, PTSD, and substance intoxication. In clinical documentation, it is frequently paired with depersonalization; editors must treat each as a separate, named symptom and should not merge them into a single descriptor. The preferred spelling is one word, unhyphenated.
Usage
Usage note: One word, no hyphen. American spelling is 'derealization'; 'derealisation' is acceptable in British-standard documents only. Do not conflate with depersonalization.
In Context
- "The clinician recorded both depersonalization and derealization as distinct symptoms in the dissociative symptoms checklist." — Intake assessment
- "Derealization should not be edited to 'derealisation' in American English clinical documents." — Style convention note