Overview

The Dissociative Experiences Scale – II (DES-II) is an updated version of the original Dissociative Experiences Scale. It is designed to assess dissociative phenomena in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Dissociation refers to psychological experiences in which a person’s thoughts, memories, feelings, or perceptions become disconnected or fragmented. The DES-II is widely recognized for its ability to measure both everyday dissociative experiences and those indicative of dissociative disorders.

Structure of the Scale

The DES-II consists of 28 items. These items are designed to explore three core dimensions of dissociative experiences. The first dimension is amnesia, which assesses difficulties in remembering significant personal events or information. The second is depersonalization and derealization, which captures feelings of detachment from one’s body or surroundings. The third is identity dissociation, which involves the sense that one’s identity is divided, inconsistent, or not fully under one’s control.

Each item is rated by the respondent using a percentage scale from 0% to 100%, reflecting how frequently they experience the described situation in their daily life.

Scoring and Interpretation

To determine the overall dissociative tendency, the average of the 28 item scores is calculated. This total score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more frequent dissociative experiences. In addition to the total score, the DES-II can be interpreted through its subscales, allowing for a more detailed understanding of the types of dissociation a person experiences. These subscales include amnesia, depersonalization/derealization, and identity dissociation.

Purpose and Use

The primary purpose of the DES-II is to measure the intensity and frequency of dissociative experiences in individuals. It is often used to screen for dissociative disorders and guide clinical decision-making. Clinicians may use the results to inform diagnosis or treatment planning, especially when dissociation is a central feature of the person’s psychological difficulties. Beyond clinical use, the scale is also applied in research to examine both normal and pathological dissociation in the general population.

Psychometric Properties

The DES-II has been extensively evaluated for reliability and validity. Research has demonstrated that it consistently measures what it intends to assess and that it performs well across different populations. Established scoring thresholds help clinicians interpret results and decide when further diagnostic investigation is warranted.

References

Bernstein, E. M., & Putnam, F. W. (1986). Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 174(12), 727–735.
Carlson, E. B., & Putnam, F. W. (1993). An update on the Dissociative Experiences Scale. Dissociation: Progress in the Dissociative Disorders, 6(1), 16–27.
Ross, C. A., Heber, S., Norton, G. R., & Anderson, G. (1989). The Dissociative Experiences Scale: A replication study. Dissociation: Progress in the Dissociative Disorders, 2(3), 144–146.