DES-II
Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)
The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) is a self-report tool used to identify symptoms of dissociation. It is often used in clinical settings to screen for dissociative disorders such as dissociative identity disorder. The test covers various aspects of dissociation, including derealization, dissociative amnesia and depersonalization experiences.
- Number of questions
- 28 questions
- Estimated duration
- 7 minutes
- Language
- English
- Original name
- Dissociative Experience Scale
- Target audience
- Adults
- Authors
- Eve Bernstein Carlson, Frank W. Putnam (1993)
- Category
- PTSD, Dissociative disorders
Preview of the 28 questions
Scoring & interpretation
The total score is the mean of the 28 items (each rated from 0 to 100%), and therefore ranges from 0 to 100. A score below 10 indicates low dissociation, between 10 and 19 mild dissociation, and between 20 and 29 moderate dissociation. From 30 upward, dissociation is considered high and an in-depth diagnostic assessment is indicated (cutoff recommended by Carlson & Putnam, 1993; sensitivity 76%, specificity 76–85%).
For reference, the mean is 5.4 in the general population, 7.0 in anxiety disorders, 19.2 in borderline personality disorder, 31 in posttraumatic stress disorder and 48 in dissociative identity disorder.
The DES-T (dissociative taxon) is a subscore made up of 8 items (3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 22, 27) that specifically targets pathological dissociation. A DES-T score greater than or equal to 20 suggests membership in the pathological dissociative taxon (Waller, Putnam & Carlson, 1996).
Three subscales are also reported: dissociative amnesia (items 3, 4, 5, 8, 25, 26), depersonalization/derealization (items 7, 11, 12, 13, 27, 28) and absorption (items 2, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20). These subscales have no validated clinical cutoff and are interpreted as a relative profile.
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