DTS
Distress Tolerance Scale (DTS)
The DTS is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure perceived tolerance of emotional distress, that is, a person's ability to withstand, appraise, and regulate negative affective states. The tool explores four complementary dimensions: tolerance, attentional absorption, appraisal of distress, and regulation efforts. Widely used in clinical psychology and research, it helps identify a transdiagnostic vulnerability involved in anxiety disorders, addictive behaviors, emotion regulation difficulties, and various forms of psychological distress. It does not make a diagnosis on its own, but provides a useful benchmark for assessing emotional functioning and monitoring clinical progress.
- Number of questions
- 15 questions
- Estimated duration
- 3 minutes
- Language
- English
- Original name
- Distress Tolerance Scale
- Target audience
- Adults
- Authors
- Jeffrey S. Simons, Raluca M. Gaher (2005)
- Category
- Emotion regulation, Anxiety
Scoring & interpretation
The DTS comprises 15 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Scoring aims to obtain a total distress tolerance score, with the positively worded item reversed depending on the version used. The global score is most often calculated as the mean of the 15 items and, if needed, the means of the Tolerance, Absorption, Appraisal, and Regulation subscales. High scores reflect better perceived tolerance of emotional distress, while low scores suggest difficulty withstanding and managing negative affect. There is no universally accepted diagnostic cutoff, so interpretation is preferably dimensional, clinical, and comparative over time.
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