DSS
Depersonalization Severity Scale (DSS)
The DSS is a self-report scale used to measure the intensity of depersonalization symptoms in adults. It explores experiences such as feeling detached from oneself, feeling like an outside observer of one's thoughts or body, subjective numbing, and a sense of unreality of the self. In clinical practice, it is mainly used for symptom identification, estimating baseline severity, and monitoring changes over time, particularly in dissociative disorders and the dissociative subtype of PTSD. It does not replace a clinical interview or a differential diagnosis, but it provides a quick, structured measure that is useful for symptom monitoring.
- Number of questions
- 20 questions
- Estimated duration
- 10 minutes
- Language
- English
- Original name
- Depersonalization Severity Scale
- Target audience
- Adults
- Authors
- Carlson, E. B., Waelde, L. C., Palmieri, P. A., Macia, K. S (2018)
- Category
- PTSD
Scoring & interpretation
Each item is rated on an ordinal scale of frequency or severity, and the scores are then summed to obtain a total score. A higher score indicates more severe depersonalization. In the absence of a universally accepted diagnostic cutoff, interpretation should take into account the overall score, the content of the highest-rated items, and changes across several administrations.
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