Déjà vu experiences are rarely associated with pathological dissociation

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2008 May;196(5):417-9. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31816ff36d.

Abstract

We investigated the relation between déjà vu and dissociative experiences in nonclinical subjects. In 227 adult volunteers, déjà vu and dissociative experiences were evaluated by means of the inventory of déjà vu experiences assessment and dissociative experiences scale (DES). Déjà vu experiences occurred in 162 (71.4%) individuals. In univariate correlation analysis, the frequency of déjà vu experiences, as well as 5 other inventory of déjà vu experiences assessment symptoms and age at the time of evaluation, correlated significantly with the DES score. After exclusion of intercorrelative effects using multiple regression analysis, déjà vu experiences did not remain in the model. The DES score was best correlated with a model that included age, jamais vu, depersonalization, and precognitive dreams. Two indices for pathological dissociation (DES-taxon and DES > or = 30) were not associated with déjà vu experiences. Our findings suggest that déjà vu experiences are unlikely to be core pathological dissociative experiences.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Deja Vu / psychology*
  • Depersonalization / diagnosis
  • Depersonalization / psychology
  • Dissociative Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Dissociative Disorders / psychology
  • Dreams
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Inventory
  • Statistics as Topic