Title: Module 3: Confronting Depersonalization
This module was a collaboration between the STI/HIV Prevention Training Center at Johns Hopkins and Lean in Systems & Solutions. This module takes a closer look at depersonalization in healthcare settings. It's a phenomenon that might make you feel like you're watching your life from the sidelines, especially in high-stress environments like healthcare.
This concise (10-15 minute) module is all about understanding depersonalization through the lens of your work and figuring out what you can do about it. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed to the point of feeling disconnected from their work, their patients, or even themselves.
Depersonalization: A state of feeling disconnected from your thoughts, body, and surroundings, often stemming from being overwhelmed. It can make everything you do feel automated and distant, almost as if you’re not really there (Spiegel, 1997).
Goal: To empower learners to recognize depersonalization and take actionable steps towards mitigating its effects in healthcare settings.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize Depersonalization: Identify signs of depersonalization and understand its impact on health and work performance.
- Manage and Mitigate: Explore strategies to address depersonalization, enhancing engagement and satisfaction in professional settings.
Dive into this module to not just learn about depersonalization but to start actively addressing it in your daily professional life.
Project/Content Lead:
Alexander Waitt, MS, MSEd, LPC (he/him)
Founder & Chief Executive Officer at Lean In Systems & Solutions
Audrey Collier, BS (she/her)
Project Manager, Lean In Systems & Solutions
Contributors:
Dr. Jamie Hanson, PhD (he/him)
Chief Scientist Officer at Lean In Systems & Solutions
Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Alison DuBois, PhD, LPC (she/her)
Chief Wellness Officer, Lean In Systems & Solutions
President & CEO at The Mindful Mind, LLC
Nicole Luhanik, MS, LPC (she/her)
Clinical Director, Oasis Mental Health Services
Mercedes Robinson, MA, Ed.m (she/her)
Chief Executive Officer, Tequity In Action
Assistant Director of DEI, Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Salah Kanaan, MSc (he/him)
Chief Technology Officer at Lean In Systems & Solutions
Acknowledgements:
Barbara Wilgus, MSN, CRNP [She/Her/Hers]
Program Administrator, STD/HIV Prevention Training Center at Johns Hopkins; JHU Bayview Medical Center
References:
Miguel-Puga, J. A., Cooper-Bribiesca, D., Avelar-Garnica, F. J., Sanchez-Hurtado, L. A., Colin-Martínez, T., Espinosa-Poblano, E., Anda-Garay, J. C., González-Díaz, J. I., Segura-Santos, O. B., Vital-Arriaga, L. C., & Jáuregui-Renaud, K. (2021). Burnout, depersonalization, and anxiety contribute to post-traumatic stress in frontline health workers at COVID-19 patient care, a follow-up study. Brain and behavior, 11(3), e02007. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.2007
Prinz, P., Hertrich, K., Hirschfelder, U., & de Zwaan, M. (2012). Burnout, depression and depersonalisation--psychological factors and coping strategies in dental and medical students. GMS Zeitschrift fur medizinische Ausbildung, 29(1), Doc10. https://doi.org/10.3205/zma000780
Spiegel, D. (1997). Trauma, dissociation, and memory. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 821(1 Psychobiology), 225–237. 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1997.tb48282.x
Tawfik, D. S., Scheid, A., Profit, J., Shanafelt, T., Trockel, M., Adair, K. C., Sexton, J. B., & Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2019). Evidence Relating Health Care Provider Burnout and Quality of Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Annals of internal medicine, 171(8), 555–567. https://doi.org/10.7326/M19-1152
Disclosure:
The content experts involved in the creation of this module, including the collaboration between the STI/HIV Prevention Training Center at Johns Hopkins and Lean in Systems & Solutions, have declared that there are no financial relationships or conflicts of interest to disclose. This module is the product of our commitment to providing high-quality, unbiased education and training. Our team has worked diligently to ensure that the content is current, accurate, and developed independently of any commercial interests.