DERS: Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (36-Item, 6 Subscales, Scoring)

The DERS (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale) is a 36-item self-report measure of how much trouble a person has identifying, accepting, and modulating their emotions. Developed by Gratz and Roemer (2004), the DERS scores six subscales, Nonacceptance, Goals, Impulse, Awareness, Strategies, Clarity, plus a total. Total range is 36–180; higher scores mean greater emotion regulation difficulty. The DERS is the de-facto outcome measure for DBT programs and a sensitive marker in trauma populations.

HiBoop automates DERS delivery, subscale scoring, and longitudinal tracking, alongside depression, anxiety, and PTSD measures.

The DERS (Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale) is a validated 36-item self-report questionnaire developed by Gratz and Roemer (2004) to measure multiple dimensions of emotion regulation difficulty. Scored on a 5-point scale (1 = almost never to 5 = almost always), total scores range from 36 to 180, higher scores indicate greater difficulty regulating emotions. The DERS assesses six subscales: Nonacceptance of emotional responses (NONACCEPT), Difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior (GOALS), Impulse control difficulties (IMPULSE), Lack of emotional awareness (AWARE), Limited access to emotion regulation strategies (STRATEGIES), and Lack of emotional clarity (CLARITY).

This DERS online test lets you complete all 36 questions and receive an automated total score plus all six subscale scores with clinical interpretation. The DERS is widely used in research and clinical settings for measuring emotion dysregulation in borderline personality disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Use the interactive DERS scoring tool below. For related tools, see the assessment library and learn about measurement-based care.

HiBoop supports automated DERS administration with subscale scoring and longitudinal tracking for emotion-focused treatment monitoring.

The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a detailed self-report measure assessing multiple aspects of emotion dysregulation. Developed by Gratz & Roemer (2004), it measures six clinically distinct dimensions: awareness and understanding of emotions, acceptance of negative emotions, ability to act toward goals when distressed, impulse control when distressed, access to regulation strategies, and emotional clarity.

Rate how often each statement applies to you using the scale below. Some items are about emotions in general; most items begin "When I'm upset..." and refer to how you respond during emotional distress.

Response scale: Rate how often each statement applies to you.

Lack of Emotional Clarity

Lack of Emotional Awareness

Nonacceptance of Emotional Responses

Difficulty Engaging in Goal-Directed Behavior

Impulse Control Difficulties

Limited Access to Emotion Regulation Strategies

Subscale Breakdown

Higher subscale scores indicate more difficulty in that area. Community norms: NONACCEPT ~10, GOALS ~16, IMPULSE ~13, AWARE ~15, STRATEGIES ~22, CLARITY ~10 (Gratz & Roemer, 2004).

DERS Score Interpretation Guide

DERS Subscale Reference

Nonacceptance of emotional responses, secondary negative reactions to distress (shame, anger, guilt about feeling upset)

Difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior when distressed, concentration and task completion impairment

Impulse control difficulties, difficulty controlling behavior when experiencing negative emotions

Lack of emotional awareness, tendency to not attend to or acknowledge emotional states (all items reverse-scored)

Limited access to emotion regulation strategies, belief that nothing can be done to manage distress effectively

Lack of emotional clarity, uncertainty about what one is feeling; difficulty identifying and distinguishing emotional states

Documenting DERS scores in clinical notes?

DERS total and subscale scores belong in the Objective section of your clinical note. See our SOAP notes guide for templates and examples.

The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) was developed by Kim L. Gratz and Lizabeth Roemer (2004). Gratz, K. L., & Roemer, L. (2004). Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 26(1), 41–54. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94 (not indexed in PubMed). Provided here for educational and professional use only.