ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Depersonalization syndrome, which includes symptoms such as loss of feelings of agency and alienation from the perceptual world, may be one of the predicting factors of medical malpractice among nurses. However, there have been few studies which have shown a relationship between depersonalization syndrome and medical malpractice. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between depersonalization syndrome andmedical malpractice. A total of 627 Japanese female nurses completed questionnaires which included the Cambridge
Depersonalization Scale (CDS) and questions regarding frequency of medical incidents and accidents. We divided participants into non-malpractice, incident and accident groups according to whether or not they had experience of incidents and accidents and compared scores of total CDS and its subscales among these groups. These results showed that total CDS scores in incident and accident groups were higher than in
non-malpractice group. Score of Anomalous Body Experience (CDS subscale) in incident group was higher than in non-malpractice group. Score ofAlienation from Surroundings (CDS subscale) in accident group was higher than in non-malpractice group. These results suggest that depersonalization syndrome (or tendency) is possibly one of the pre-
dicting factors of medical incidents and accidents. Therefore, we need to support nurses who experience this syndrome before malpractice occurs. Furthermore, it is pointed out that depersonalization syndrome is accompanied by distress and exhaustion. Therefore, it is important that we make efforts to establish ideal work management systems to prevent depersonalization.
