Symptoms of detachment from the self or from the environment in patients with an acquired deficiency of the special senses

Abstract

To compare the frequency of symptoms of detachment from the self or from the environment (DD) in patients with an acquired deficiency of the special senses, a questionnaire for DD symptoms [12] and the GHQ12 questionnaire for common mental disorders [16] were auto-administered to patients with hearing-loss (N = 40), peripheral vestibular disease (N = 40) or bilateral retinal disease (N = 40), and to 80 healthy subjects. Patients with retinal disease and patients with vestibular disease reported DD symptoms more frequently & severe than patients with hearing loss and healthy subjects. DD scores were related to the GHQ12 scores and to the type of sensory dysfunction. DD symptoms are more frequent & severe in patients with an acquired deficiency of the special senses, associated to symptoms of common mental disorders.