Movies about depersonalisation/derealisation disorder - Mental Health Related Films

Human lives and behaviour are far more nuanced and emotive than any psychiatric diagnostic system or symptom checklist can ever portray.

Most people recognise aspects of themselves in at least a few psychiatric diagnostic categories. The difference between normal and disorder is not straightforward and often has more to do with degree rather than kind, i.e. does it cause big problems?

While movies are not perfect depictions of reality, they often present themes in relatable, enriching, usefully challenging, and thought-provoking ways.

We invite you to explore mental health through movies that raise awareness, open dialogue, present complexity, entertain, and/or normalise experiences.

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What is Depersonalisation/ derealisation disorder?

Depersonalisation/derealisation disorder is a type of dissociative disorder that can cause a person to experience either feeling detached from one's self or feeling like the surroundings aren’t real.

A person with depersonalisation disorder feels like an outside observer of their life. They sometimes compare themselves to a robot with no control over their actions and often feel disconnected from their memories and emotions.

A person with derealisation disorder may feel as if they are is in a dream, where the world seems distorted and unreal. As if a glass wall lies between them and their environment.

Unlike psychotic disorders, a person with depersonalisation/derealisation disorder is aware that the experience of detachment is not real.

In psychiatry, the depersonalisation/derealisation disorder is defined in the DSM-5 (diagnostic manual) as follows…

Abridged criteria for Depersonalisation/derealisation disorder 300.6 (F48.1)

A. The presence of persistent or recurrent experiences of depersonalisation, derealisation, or both:

1. Depersonalisation: Experiences of unreality, detachment, or being an outside observer with respect to one’s thoughts, feelings, sensations, body, or actions (e.g., perceptual alterations, distorted sense of time, unreal or absent self, emotional and/ or physical numbing).

2. Derealisation: Experiences of unreality or detachment with respect to surroundings (e.g., individuals or objects are experienced as unreal, dreamlike, foggy, lifeless, or visually distorted).

B. During the depersonalisation or derealisation experiences, reality testing remains intact.

C. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Movies about Depersonalisation/derealisation disorder

If we missed an essential film about depersonalisation/derealisation disorder, please let us know. We would love to include it.

Note: Movies may trigger painful memories and emotions. Please use your judgement and ensure support is available if need be.

Movie Title: Being John Malkovich - Click to watch

Release: 1999

Rated: 7.8

Cast: John Malkovich, John Cusack, Cameron Diaz

Storyline: A New York City puppeteer takes a job as a filing clerk for a doctor who has a secret. His actions depict depersonalisation disorder. He, feeling empty, attempts to restore his self by controlling others.

Movie Title: Numb - Watch now on Prime

Release: 2007

Rated: 6.6

Cast: Matthew Perry, Lynn Collins, Kevin Pollak

Storyline: A successful screenwriter becomes affected by depersonalisation disorder after using marijuana. As he desperately seeks to cure his condition, he meets the girl of his dreams.

Movie Title: Black Mirror: Bandersnatch

Release: 2018

Rated: 7.2

Cast: Fionn Whitehead, Craig Parkinson, Alice Lowe

Storyline: A young programmer develops derealisation disorder when he adapts a fantasy novel into a video game.

References and Links

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

What is Depersonalisation disorder?: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/depersonalization-disorder-mental-health#1

What is Derealisation disorder?: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-derealization-overview#1

More on Depersonalisation/derealisation disorder: https://www.verywellmind.com/derealization-2671582

Depersonalisation/derealisation disorder according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depersonalization-derealization_disorder

Acknowledgements

The above article was written under my close direction and supervision. However, much credit goes to Charlene Poliquit (my right-hand man) and Andri Eigenberger (my beloved aunt) for their huge efforts in bringing this task to life.

Vincenzo Sinisi

Photo by Jesús Rocha on Unsplash