Spatiotemporal disruptions of reality perception in depersonalization

Experiences of time and space are core constituents of the sense of bodily self. Depersonalization (DP) is a condition characterized by distressing feelings of estrangement from the self, body and the external world. While previous studies showed that perception of the space close to the body (i.e., peri-personal space) remains intact in DP, time perception is disrupted. The origin of this asymmetry remains an open question. Addressing this gap, this online study ( N = 1338) investigated the relation between DP traits measured by the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS) and altered subjective experiences of body, time, and space perception. The results demonstrated strong relationships between CDS facets and distorted experiences of time, bodily self and space. When considering the shared variance of CDS facets, different patterns emerge. The Anomalous Body Experiences facet is associated with time slowing down and represented a core aspect of DP contributing to spatiotemporal disruptions. In contrast, the Alienation from Surroundings facet is associated with time speeding up , leading to different patterns of spatiotemporal disruptions. Altogether, these results suggest that distinct DP facets related to body and world perception need to be disentangled to better understand the mechanisms underlying atypical space and time perception in this population.