Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder (ICD- 10: F48.1) is a common but rarely diagnosed mental disorder with a prevalence of 1% in the general population. Patients complain about persistently (24/7) perceiving themselves or their surroundings as unreal and strange (as if looking through a veil, as if dreaming, as being a distant observer). Depersonalization (DP) and derealization (DR) are considered as a de- fense against conflictual feelings, enabling iso- lation of affect when the individual‘s affect tolerance is exceeded by splitting the self into a detached part observing the unacceptable part (Jacobson, 1959). This defense occurs mainly within high resistant and fragile patients. This difficult-to-see and to-address defense mecha- nism often perpetuates the therapeutic change process. In the workshop, we will give a short overview of the disorder and then present typical and difficult moments of treatment sessions. The colleagues will learn to diagnose DDD and to deal with this mechanism.
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