Interactive Interpreter

CDC Scoring · Child Dissociative Checklist (Version 3)

The CDC (Child Dissociative Checklist) is a 20-item observer-report checklist that a parent or other adult who knows the child completes to screen for dissociation in children. Each item is rated 0 to 2 for a total of 0 to 40; the scoring notes call scores above 12 suspicious and scores above 19 cause for concern of a serious dissociative disorder.

For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.

CDC Score Interpreter

  • CDC Score Calculator

    Enter each of the 20 items (0–2) to total them; the range shows below. Items are numbered, not reproduced: enter them from the form in front of you.

    0 of 20 items entered — 20 still blank. The total can only rise, so treat the range as provisional.

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    Each item scores 0–2.

  • Enter a total score to see its range.

  • 20 items, each rated 0 (not true), 1 (somewhat or sometimes true) or 2 (very true) for the child now or within the past 12 months; sum for a total of 0 to 40. Completed by a parent or other adult who knows the child.

    Total scoreInterpretation
    20+Concern for a serious dissociative disorderScores of 20 to 40. The scoring notes treat a score above 19 as cause for concern of a serious dissociative disorder; refer for a full assessment.
    12–19SuspiciousScores of 12 to 19. The scoring notes call scores above 12 suspicious; a closer look at dissociative symptoms is warranted.
    0–11Below the suspicious rangeScores of 0 to 11.

    Putnam, CDC Version 3 scoring notes: any score above 12 should be considered suspicious, and a score above 19 is cause for concern of a serious dissociative disorder. The middle range here starts at 12, so a score of exactly 12 is flagged too.

The CDC (Child Dissociative Checklist) is a 20-item observer-report checklist for dissociation in children. A parent or other adult who knows the child rates each item 0 to 2, for a total of 0 to 40 [1] [2].

What does the CDC measure?

The CDC measures dissociative behaviour in children as seen by an adult who knows them. Dissociation ranges along a continuum from minor, normal dissociation to psychiatric disorder, and high levels are associated with more self-destructive behaviour and other symptoms [1].

  • Why it was built. Measures of dissociation existed for adults but not for children; the CDC was developed to fill that gap [1].
  • What it covers. Its items describe behaviours such as memory problems, trance-like states, rapid shifts in behaviour or ability, and other signs associated with dissociation, rated for the child now or within the past 12 months [2].

For adolescents and adults who report on themselves, see the DES and the DES-B. Dissociation often follows trauma; the ACE questionnaire records adverse childhood experiences.

How do you give the CDC?

  • Who completes it. A parent, caregiver or other adult who knows the child well; the child does not complete it [1].
  • Time window. Each item is rated for how the child is now or within the past 12 months [2].
  • Response scale. 0 (not true), 1 (somewhat or sometimes true) or 2 (very true) [2].
  • Who interprets it. A clinician experienced with childhood trauma and dissociation reads the total alongside the history.

How do you score and interpret the CDC?

  1. Rate each of the 20 items 0, 1 or 2 [2].
  2. Add the 20 ratings for a total from 0 to 40.
  3. Read the total against the scoring notes: any score above 12 should be considered suspicious, and a score above 19 is cause for concern of a serious dissociative disorder [2]. The scorer at the top of this page starts the middle range at 12, so a score of exactly 12 is also flagged for a closer look.
  4. Compare with the validation groups. Children with dissociative disorder not otherwise specified averaged 16.8 (SD 4.7), and children with dissociative identity disorder averaged 24.5 (SD 5.2); other research found a mean of 22 in children diagnosed with a dissociative disorder [2].
  5. Treat a high score as a reason for a full clinical assessment, not as a diagnosis [1].

Psychometric properties

  • Test-retest reliability. Over one year, the CDC had a test-retest correlation of ρ = .69 in 73 girls, some with and some without a history of sexual abuse [1].
  • Discriminant validity. It separated four groups: girls with no abuse history, girls who had been sexually abused, children with dissociative disorder not otherwise specified, and children with dissociative identity disorder (the 1993 study used the earlier DSM name) [1].
  • Across dissociation measures. A 2025 systematic review of 44 dissociation measures found that none met every COSMIN criterion for good measurement properties; for children and adolescents, the strongest evidence was for the adolescent version of the DES [3].

Limitations

  • Screening, not diagnosis. Its authors say the CDC is not designed to be used for diagnosis [1].
  • Observer report. Scores depend on how much of the child's behaviour the adult sees and how they read it.
  • Thresholds from scoring notes. The suspicious and serious-concern thresholds come from the checklist's scoring notes rather than from a published diagnostic accuracy study.
  • Older evidence. The core validation dates from 1993, and a 2025 review found that most studies of dissociation measures did not assess reliability [3].

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.

Related

FAQ

  • What is the Child Dissociative Checklist?

    The Child Dissociative Checklist (CDC) is a 20-item checklist, developed by Frank Putnam and colleagues, that a parent or other adult who knows the child completes to screen for dissociation in children. It was published in 1993 as an observer-report measure because no dissociation measure for children existed at the time.

  • How do you score the CDC?

    Each of the 20 items is rated 0 (not true), 1 (somewhat or sometimes true) or 2 (very true) for how well it describes the child now or within the past 12 months. Add the 20 ratings for a total from 0 to 40. Higher totals mean more dissociative behaviour.

  • What is a high score on the Child Dissociative Checklist?

    The CDC scoring notes describe any score above 12 as suspicious and a score above 19 as cause for concern of a serious dissociative disorder. In the first validation sample, children with dissociative disorder not otherwise specified averaged 16.8 and children with dissociative identity disorder averaged 24.5.

  • Can the CDC diagnose a dissociative disorder?

    No. Its authors describe the CDC as a clinical screening and research measure that is not designed to be used for diagnosis. A high score is a reason for a full assessment by a clinician experienced with dissociation in children.

References

    1. 1.Putnam FW, Helmers K, Trickett PK. Development, reliability, and validity of a child dissociation scale. Child Abuse Negl. 1993;17(6):731-41.
    2. 2.Putnam FW. Child Dissociative Checklist (CDC), Version 3, with scoring notes.
    3. 3.Wainipitapong S, Millman LSM, Huang X, Wieder L, Terhune DB, Pick S. Assessing dissociation: A systematic review and evaluation of existing measures. J Psychiatr Res. 2025;181:91-98.

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