During depersonalization or derealization experiences, reality testing remains

• A. intact
• B. impaired
• C. absent
• D. not specified

Answer: (A)

Reality testing is the ability to tell what is happening in your mind from what is happening in the external world. In depersonalization and derealization, people feel detached or unreal, but they still recognize that these experiences are subjective and not evidence that the external reality has changed. This preserved insight helps distinguish dissociative experiences from psychosis, where reality testing is typically impaired. Therefore, reality testing remains intact. It would be inconsistent with these states to say it’s impaired or absent, since patients generally maintain the sense that their experiences are a symptom, not actual reality.