Depersonalization & Derealization Test
A confidential self-assessment informed by the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale, the most widely used research measure of feeling detached from yourself and the world. It separates depersonalization (feeling unreal inside) from derealization (the world feeling unreal) and gives you an instant, plain-language result plus a professional PDF report.
What this test measures
Two sides of the same experience, measured separately
Detachment shows up in two distinct ways, and telling them apart helps you understand what you are noticing. This screener looks at both, then frames how common and how treatable they are.
Depersonalization
Feeling detached from your own body, thoughts, or emotions: like an observer of yourself, numb, robotic, or as if you are not quite real.
Derealization
The world around you feeling unreal, dreamlike, foggy, or flat, as though a pane of glass sits between you and everything else.
How often it happens
Frequency matters more than the experience itself. Brief, occasional detachment is normal. Persistent, distressing detachment is what clinicians pay attention to.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Based on a validated DP/DR instrument | Rarely | Yes, informed by the CDS |
| Separates depersonalization from derealization | No | Yes, two subscores |
| Frequency-based scoring | Often single yes/no | Yes, 0 to 4 per item |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, MD reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How we built this test
Methodology & sources
The items are informed by the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (Sierra and Berrios, 2000), the most widely cited research questionnaire for depersonalization and derealization. The original scale rates 29 experiences on separate frequency and duration dimensions. This educational screener reproduces the meaning of representative items in plain language, rates each on a single 0 to 4 frequency dimension, and is grouped into a depersonalization subscale and a derealization subscale so you can see where your experiences cluster.
This test is provided for education and self-reflection. It is deliberately conservative: it presents detachment as a common stress response first, and frames any elevated result as a reason to speak with a professional rather than as a diagnosis. Depersonalization and derealization are recognized features of anxiety, panic, trauma, sleep deprivation, and cannabis use, and they are treatable.
- Sierra M, Berrios GE. The Cambridge Depersonalisation Scale: a new instrument for the measurement of depersonalisation. Psychiatry Res. 2000;93(2):153–164.
- Sierra M, David AS. Depersonalization: a selective impairment of self-awareness. Conscious Cogn. 2011;20(1):99–108.
- Hunter ECM, Sierra M, David AS. The epidemiology of depersonalisation and derealisation. A systematic review. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 2004;39(1):9–18.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). 2022.
Common questions
Depersonalization & Derealization Test FAQ
What is depersonalization and derealization?
Depersonalization is feeling detached from yourself, as if you are watching your own life from the outside or do not feel quite real. Derealization is the world around you feeling unreal, foggy, or dreamlike. They often happen together and are among the most common responses to anxiety, panic, and stress.
Are these experiences dangerous?
No. Depersonalization and derealization are distressing but not dangerous, and they do not mean you are losing your mind or developing psychosis. They are a recognized way the brain protects itself under stress. Most episodes are brief and pass on their own.
How common is this?
Very. Around half of all people report at least one brief episode of depersonalization or derealization in their lifetime, often after stress, exhaustion, panic, or cannabis use. Persistent, distressing detachment is less common and is what benefits most from professional support.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Only a licensed clinician can assess depersonalization-derealization disorder or any related condition. If your results concern you, consider talking with a mental-health professional.
Can it be treated?
Yes. Depersonalization and derealization respond to therapy, especially approaches that reduce anxiety and reorient attention to the present, and to treating any underlying anxiety, panic, trauma, or sleep problems. Many people see these experiences fade as the root cause is addressed.