Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II): Measuring Symptoms

The DES-II is a self-report questionnaire that measures dissociative symptoms like amnesia. Clinicians use it to identify patients who need further evaluation for dissociative disorders.

Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) PDF questionnaire for assessing dissociation.
DES-II

Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)

The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) is a 28-item self-report questionnaire for screening dissociative symptoms. It measures how often patients experience amnesia or depersonalisation. This tool helps clinicians identify individuals who might need further testing for dissociative disorders.

Category

Mental health
Diagnostic

Disease

Mental Health
Assessment
Diagnostics

Source

(Carlson & Putnam, 1993)

Author Name

Carlson, E.B. & Putnam, F.W. (1993)

Page Editor

Thijs Sondag

What is Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)

The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) is a trusted tool for screening dissociative symptoms. It helps clinicians spot potential disorders early. This 28 item survey covers a wide range of daily experiences. It looks at normal dissociation like daydreaming plus severe clinical signs that require attention. Clients rate how often they have specific experiences using a percentage scale from 0 to 100. The questions explore key areas like amnesia, absorption, and depersonalisation to give a clear picture of symptom frequency and severity for the clinician. While it does not diagnose on its own, the DES-II is excellent for initial screening. It is quick to administer and score, making it handy for busy practices. Mental health pros use it to guide further assessment and treatment planning for complex conditions like Dissociative Identity Disorder.

DES-II Scoring

The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) can be scored using one main approach: calculating the overall average. For the 28 items, clients circle a percentage from 0% to 100% to show how often they have specific experiences. To get the score, you simply add up all these percentages and divide the total by 28. While there are subscales for amnesia and absorption, the total score matters most. A result over 30 usually suggests a high chance of dissociative identity disorder, helping doctors decide if more clinical testing is required.

View scoring form

Advantages

Diagnostic accuracy

Enables precise identification of patient health status.

Reliable data

Provides consistent measurements for clinical research.

Efficient collection

Streamlines research data gathering process.

Research validity

Strengthens evidence through systematic measurement approaches.

10
Minutes
28
Questions

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