Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of depersonalization-derealization disorder include:

• Certain personality traits that make you want to avoid or deny difficult situations or make it hard to adapt to difficult situations
• Severe trauma, during childhood or as an adult, such as experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event or abuse
• Severe stress, such as major relationship, financial or work-related issues
• Depression or anxiety, especially severe or prolonged depression, or anxiety with panic attacks
• Using recreational drugs, which can trigger episodes of depersonalization or derealization