Exploring The Spectrum Of Dissociative Symptoms In Depression: A Case-Control Analysis

Dissociative experiences have been reported in the patients of depression that are often unacknowledged but frequently encountered and they contribute to the burden of illness. There are very limited studies in India on the topic of dissociative experiences in patients of depression. This study aims to evaluate dissociative experiences in individuals diagnosed with depression compared to healthy controls. This case-control, observational, and analytical study was conducted in the Psychiatry Department of Sharda Hospital, Greater Noida, U.P. A total of 100 participants were included, comprising 50 patients with depression, 50 healthy controls. Participants were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II). Statistical analyses were performed to compare dissociative experiences among the study groups. Preliminary findings indicate that dissociative experiences were significantly higher in patients with depression compared to controls (p < 0.05). This study highlights the presence of dissociative symptoms in patients with depression, emphasizing the need for targeted assessment and management. The findings underscore the importance of integrating dissociative symptoms into routine psychiatric evaluations to improve patient outcomes.