Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) Overview
The DERS is a self-report tool that measures how well individuals handle their emotions. It helps clinicians identify specific struggles to plan effective mental health treatments.

Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) helps clinicians measure how well patients manage their feelings. This self-report survey assesses issues like impulse control and emotional clarity. It's widely used in therapy to identify dysregulation patterns and track improvements over time.
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Disease
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What is Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a trusted tool for assessing how well individuals manage their complex emotional responses. Unlike basic mood trackers, this comprehensive 36-item self-report measure looks at the bigger picture of emotional control and distinct dysregulation patterns. It breaks things down into six clear subscales, covering areas like impulse control, emotional clarity, and acceptance. Respondents rate how often statements apply to them on a five-point scale ranging from almost never to almost always, offering rich clinical insight. Clinicians find it handy for spotting deficits in patients dealing with anxiety or borderline personality disorder. It is easy to score and helps guide treatment planning effectively. By pinpointing where a client struggles, therapists can build better coping skills for future success.
The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale can be scored using two main approaches: total sum and subscales. First, reverse score items 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 17, 20, 22, 24, and 34 so higher numbers mean more trouble regulating feelings. Then, add up all 36 responses to get a total score ranging from 36 to 180. You can also calculate six subscale scores like Impulse Control Difficulties and Lack of Emotional Awareness by summing specific items. Higher tallies suggest greater problems managing emotions, helping clinicians spot where a client struggles most in daily life.
Advantages
Develops personalised strategies based on assessment data.
Applicable across multiple diseases and conditions.
Measures healthcare intervention results systematically.
Strengthens evidence through systematic measurement approaches.
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