Depersonalization, fantasies, and coping behavior in clinical context

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the relation between specific dissociative experiences (depersonalization. fantasies) and self- reported coping behavior in a clinical (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia) and nonclinical sample (normal adults). Dissociative experiences were asse ssed with the Questionnaire of Experiences of Dissociation (QED) of Riley ( 1988) and coping behavior with the Stress-Process Questionnaire (SPQ: Janke , Erdmann, & Boucsein. 1985). A factor analysis of the QED items revealed a two-factor extraction: Factor 1 "depersonalization" and Factor 2 "fantasie s/daydreams." The clinical group scored higher on the QED factor "depersona lization" and had more passive forms of coping behavior (resignation. socia l isolation, self-compassion. self-blame) than the normal adults. Similar c orrelation patterns were found for both groups: The QED factor "depersonali zation" correlated highly with the coping behaviors "resignation," "social isolation." "self-blame." "self-compassion." and "rumination." No correlati on between Factor 2 "fantasies/daydreams" and the coping behavior was found . Finally, correlations between depersonalization. trait anxiety, and perso nal need for structure were reported. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.