Dissociation Test (DES Guide)
The DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale) is a 28-item self-report questionnaire that measures how often dissociative experiences occur in everyday life. Guide to dissociation screening and DES score interpretation. DES mean score 0–100; ≥30 warrants clinical evaluation for dissociative disorder. Covers amnesia, depersonalization, and absorption. Bernstein & Putnam (1986).
DES Score Interpreter
Scores ≥30 are associated with significant dissociative pathology. A score at this level warrants a structured clinical evaluation by a qualified mental health professional.
28 items each rated 0–100% in 10% steps; score is the mean of all 28 items (not a sum). Higher scores indicate more frequent dissociative experiences.
| Total score (mean) | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| 30+ | Warrants clinical evaluationScores ≥30 are associated with significant dissociative pathology. A score at this level warrants a structured clinical evaluation by a qualified mental health professional. |
| 0–29 | Below screening thresholdScores below 30 are less likely to indicate a dissociative disorder. Some mild, non-distressing dissociative experiences are normal in everyday life. |
Carlson EB et al., Am J Psychiatry 1993;150(7):1030-6. Screening cutoff per multicenter validation study. Educational reference only — not a diagnostic tool.
For reference only — not an assessment, diagnosis, or medical advice. This page provides scoring reference material; interpretation and clinical decisions rest with a qualified clinician.
Dissociation tests measure detachment from thoughts, feelings, or identity. The DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale) is the criterion-standard 28-item measure: mean score 0–100; ≥30 warrants clinical evaluation for dissociative disorder. Developed by Bernstein & Putnam (1986); the ≥30 screening threshold was validated by Carlson et al. (1993).
What the DES measures
Dissociation is a psychological experience in which a person becomes detached from their thoughts, feelings, memories, sense of identity, or surroundings. Mild dissociation is common in everyday life (daydreaming, highway hypnosis, absorption in a book). Pathological dissociation, especially when frequent and distressing, is associated with trauma exposure, PTSD, and dissociative disorders including dissociative identity disorder (DID) and depersonalization/derealization disorder (DPDR).
A dissociation test quantifies the frequency of dissociative experiences across three clusters: amnesia (gaps in memory or recall), depersonalization and derealization (feeling detached from one's body or surroundings), and absorption and imaginative involvement (intense focus that limits awareness of surroundings). One of the most widely used dissociation tests is the DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale), a 28-item validated self-report measure developed by Bernstein and Putnam (1986).
The DES-T (Taxon) is an 8-item subscale specifically linked to pathological dissociation.
The DES is copyrighted by its authors; Carlson and Putnam have given permission for the DES-II to be copied, distributed or reproduced for research and clinical use. It has been used in over 1,000 published studies and is endorsed by the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) as a first-line screening scale for dissociative disorders.
Types of dissociative experiences
The DES captures three distinct types of dissociative experience, corresponding to the scale's empirically derived subscales (Bernstein & Putnam, 1986; Dubester & Braun, 1995):
| Type | What It Involves | Example Experiences |
|---|---|---|
| Amnesia | Gaps in autobiographical memory or awareness of recent events | Finding yourself somewhere with no memory of how you got there; discovering you did something you have no recollection of |
| Depersonalization / Derealization | Feeling detached from one's body, thoughts, or surroundings | Watching yourself from outside your body; feeling that familiar places look strange or unreal |
| Absorption | Intense attentional focus that excludes awareness of other stimuli | Becoming so absorbed in a film or daydream that time disappears; not noticing pain or someone speaking to you |
These three subscales show different patterns across diagnostic groups. Dubester & Braun (1995) reported subscale test-retest reliabilities of .95 (amnesia), .89 (depersonalization/derealization), and .82 (absorption) in a clinical sample, supporting the stability of each domain over time.
Pathological dissociation — primarily high amnesia scores — is most closely associated with severe trauma histories and dissociative disorders. Absorption, by contrast, also occurs at elevated levels in hypnotically talented non-clinical individuals and is not on its own a strong indicator of psychopathology.
How to administer the DES
The DES is a self-report questionnaire. Each item asks how often (0% to 100%, in 10% intervals) a person experiences a specific dissociative phenomenon. It typically takes 10–15 minutes to complete and requires no clinician involvement for administration, though interpretation should involve a trained clinician.
If you have completed a DES assessment, enter your mean score (0–100) below.
Educational reference only. Cannot diagnose or replace clinical evaluation. Consult a mental health professional for formal evaluation of dissociative experiences.
DES scoring and interpretation
Carlson EB et al. (1993). Mean score = sum of all 28 item scores ÷ 28. Each item rated 0–100% in 10% steps. DES-T (Taxon) is an 8-item subscale that specifically identifies pathological dissociation; Waller & Ross (1997) estimated that approximately 3.3% of the general population belongs to the pathological dissociative taxon captured by the DES-T.
The mean score across all 28 items is computed as the total score (0–100). In the Carlson et al. (1993) multicenter study of 1,051 subjects, a mean score of 30 or higher yielded 76% sensitivity and 76–85% specificity for dissociative identity disorder, and was confirmed as an appropriate first-line screening threshold warranting further clinical evaluation.
Psychometric properties
- Reliability. In a clinical sample, test-retest reliability was .93 for the total DES score and .95, .89 and .82 for the amnesia, depersonalization/derealization and absorption subscales; Cronbach's alpha was .96 and .97 across two sessions (Dubester & Braun, 1995).
- Validity. The original study showed good split-half reliability, significant item-scale correlations, and differentiation between eight clinical and non-clinical groups (Bernstein & Putnam, 1986).
- Screening accuracy. In 1,051 participants, sensitivity was 76% and specificity 76–85% for dissociative identity disorder (Carlson et al., 1993).
Limitations
- Screening, not diagnosis. Only about 17% of those scoring ≥30 in the Carlson et al. (1993) study had dissociative identity disorder; a structured interview such as the SCID-D is needed to confirm.
- Absorption is not pathology. Elevated absorption occurs in non-clinical individuals and is not on its own a strong indicator of psychopathology.
- Self-report. Memory gaps and limited awareness can affect what respondents report.
- Outcome research. Dubester & Braun (1995) discuss why the DES as originally designed is not appropriate as a dependent measure in outcome research.
Trauma & Dissociation Screening in HiBoop
HiBoop does not offer the 28-item DES; this page is reference material. For dissociation and trauma, HiBoop offers the 8-item DES-B, PCL-5 and PC-PTSD-5, scored on submission and tracked over time.
HiBoop does not offer this scale. This page is reference material.This library is an academic and clinical reference. A scale described here is not necessarily offered in HiBoop; each page says whether it is.
Bill this assessment
In the US, the Dissociation Test (DES Guide) is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
Measurement-based care in practice
For clinicians
HiBoop does not offer this scale. For the scales it does offer, responses are scored on submission and tracked over time, and HiBoop automates delivery across your patient panel.
For individuals
This page is a clinical reference, not a diagnostic tool. If you have concerns about your own symptoms, bring this information to a qualified mental health professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a DES score of 30 or higher mean?
A mean DES score of 30 or higher is a widely used clinical screening threshold indicating that further evaluation for a dissociative disorder is warranted. It does not constitute a diagnosis. In the Carlson et al. (1993) multicenter study, this cutoff yielded 76% sensitivity and 76–85% specificity for dissociative identity disorder.
Is the DES self-report or clinician-administered?
The DES is a self-report questionnaire. Respondents rate how often (0% to 100%, in 10% increments) they experience each of 28 dissociative phenomena. It typically takes 10–15 minutes to complete and requires no clinician involvement for administration, though interpretation should involve a trained clinician.
References
- 1.Bernstein EM, Putnam FW. Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1986;174(12):727-35.View source
- 2.Carlson EB, Putnam FW, Ross CA, et al. Validity of the Dissociative Experiences Scale in screening for multiple personality disorder: a multicenter study. Am J Psychiatry. 1993;150(7):1030-6.View source
- 3.Dubester KA, Braun BG. Psychometric properties of the Dissociative Experiences Scale. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1995;183(4):231-5.View source
- 4.Waller NG, Ross CA. The prevalence and biometric structure of pathological dissociation in the general population: taxometric and behavior genetic findings. J Abnorm Psychol. 1997;106(4):499-510.View source
Last reviewed: Jun 3, 2026
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