DID Test (Dissociative Identity Disorder)
The DES-II (Dissociative Experiences Scale-II) is a 28-item self-report questionnaire that measures how often dissociative experiences occur, used here to screen for dissociative identity disorder (DID). Scores run from 0 to 100, and 30 or more is the usual cutoff for a structured clinical evaluation such as the SCID-D.
For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.
DES-II Score Interpreter
Enter a total score to see its range.
28-item self-report scale. Each item rates how often a dissociative experience occurs on a 0–100% scale. Score = mean of all 28 items. Higher scores indicate more frequent dissociation.
Total score Interpretation 30+ High dissociationWarrants structured clinical evaluation, including SCID-D interview. Not specific to DID — elevated scores also occur in PTSD, BPD, and other trauma-related conditions. 15–29 Moderate dissociationAbove general-population norms (clinical convention). May reflect trauma exposure, adjustment difficulties, or subclinical dissociative experiences. Clinical context required. 0–14 Low dissociationWithin the range typical of general population samples. Scores below 30 have a negative predictive value of approximately 99% for DID in clinical settings. Carlson EB et al., Am J Psychiatry 1993. Cutoff ≥30 per multicenter validation (sensitivity 76%, specificity 76–85%). Intermediate band per clinical convention.
A DID test screens for dissociative symptoms using the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II), a 28-item self-report questionnaire [1]. DID is characterized by distinct identity states, amnesia, and trauma-related dissociation.
A high score is a reason for a full psychiatric evaluation, not a diagnosis.
What is DID and how is it assessed?
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a complex dissociative disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states (alters), recurrent gaps in memory for everyday events and personal information, and significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. DID is classified under Dissociative Disorders in DSM-5-TR (300.14).
DID is associated with a complex combination of developmental and cultural factors, including severe childhood relational trauma [4]. It is understood as a complex adaptation to overwhelming trauma in which the developing mind compartmentalizes experiences into separate identity states.
How common DID is has been estimated in a few studies:
- Community sample. In 628 women in a representative sample of a city in central Turkey, 1.1% were diagnosed with DID; only 28.7% of those with any dissociative disorder had received psychiatric treatment [6].
- Review. A 2014 empirical overview placed general-population prevalence at approximately 1%, highest in emergency psychiatric settings [4].
How DID is diagnosed
The criterion standard for diagnosis is the SCID-D (Structured Clinical Interview for Dissociative Disorders), a full clinician-administered interview [3].
The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) is one of the most widely used screening scales: a 28-item self-report scale measuring the frequency of dissociative experiences [1]. The revised DES-II format scores items on a 0–100 scale; the mean across all 28 items is the DES score.
A cutoff of 30 was validated as a screening threshold in a multicentre study, with sensitivity of 76% and specificity of 76–85% [2]. However, elevated DES scores are not specific to DID and can reflect other dissociative or trauma-related conditions such as PTSD, borderline personality disorder, and acute stress disorder.
What does the DES-II measure?
The DES-II measures the frequency of dissociative experiences in everyday life, rated as the percentage of time each experience occurs. It does not measure DID directly; elevated scores reflect dissociation from any cause.
DES-II subscale domains:
| Subscale | Description |
|---|---|
| Amnesia | Gaps in memory for everyday events or personal history |
| Depersonalization/Derealization | Feeling detached from the self or surroundings |
| Absorption | Becoming so absorbed in an activity that awareness of surroundings is lost |
How do you give the DES-II?
The DES-II is a self-report questionnaire of 28 items [1], with no time limit. Each item asks what percentage of time (0–100%) a dissociative experience occurs when not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A DES-II score alone cannot diagnose DID or any dissociative disorder; diagnosis requires full clinical evaluation including the SCID-D. If you are experiencing dissociative symptoms, please consult a trauma-informed mental health professional.
How do you score and interpret the DES-II?
The DES-II score is the mean of all 28 item scores, each rated 0–100: add the 28 responses and divide by 28 [1].
DES-II norms vary across clinical and general population samples. Scores must be interpreted in clinical context with a structured diagnostic interview.
Totals run from 0 to 100: 0–14 low dissociation, 15–29 moderate dissociation and 30–100 high dissociation.
The cutoff of 30 comes from the multicentre validation [2]; the boundary at 15 is a clinical convention. These are screening guides, not diagnostic thresholds. The scorer at the top of this page shows each range with its note.
Psychometric properties
- Development. The original DES showed good test-retest and split-half reliability, and scores differed across eight populations, supporting its criterion-referenced validity [1].
- Test-retest reliability. In a clinical sample, test-retest reliability was .93 for the total score and .95 (amnesia), .89 (depersonalization-derealization) and .82 (absorption) for the subscales [5].
- Internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha for the total DES was .96 and .97 across two test sessions [5].
- Screening accuracy. In a multicentre study of 1,051 participants, sensitivity was 76% and specificity 76–85% for identifying DID (then multiple personality disorder) [2].
Limitations
- Screening, not diagnosis. Only 17% of people scoring 30 or higher in the original multicentre study had DID (then multiple personality disorder), so most high scorers do not have DID [2]. Diagnosis requires a structured clinical interview such as the SCID-D.
- Not specific to DID. Elevated scores also occur in PTSD, borderline personality disorder, acute stress disorder, and other dissociative disorders.
- Self-report. Respondents with amnesia or limited awareness of identity states may under-report, and others may over-report.
- Outcome tracking. The DES as originally designed is not appropriate as a dependent measure in outcome research [5].
DSM-5-TR DID diagnostic criteria
Diagnosis of DID under DSM-5-TR requires all five of the following criteria:
Criterion A — Disruption of identity. The individual experiences disruption of identity characterized by two or more distinct personality states (in some cultures described as an experience of possession). Each state involves a marked discontinuity in sense of self and agency, accompanied by related changes in affect, behaviour, consciousness, memory, perception, cognition, and sensory-motor functioning. These disruptions may be observed by others or reported by the individual.
Criterion B — Recurrent amnesia. The individual experiences recurrent gaps in recall for everyday events, important personal information, and/or traumatic events that are inconsistent with ordinary forgetting.
Criterion C — Distress or dysfunction. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Criterion D — Not a cultural or religious practice. The disruption is not a normal part of a broadly accepted cultural or religious practice.
Criterion E — Not substance or medical. The symptoms are not attributable to the physiological effects of a substance (e.g., blackouts during alcohol intoxication) or another medical condition (e.g., complex partial seizures).
DSM-5-TR also requires clinicians to assess the level of distress associated with identity disruption and whether the individual has awareness of the alternate identity states, as many individuals with DID have limited or no conscious awareness of their alters. The diagnosis falls under the broader DSM-5-TR category of Dissociative Disorders (300.14 / F44.81).
Dissociative disorders spectrum
Dissociation exists on a spectrum from normal (highway hypnosis, daydreaming) to pathological. DSM-5-TR dissociative disorders include five diagnoses.
| DSM-5-TR disorder | Key features |
|---|---|
| Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) | Multiple distinct identity states; recurrent amnesia; significant functional impairment |
| Dissociative Amnesia | Inability to recall important autobiographical information, often trauma-related; may include dissociative fugue |
| Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder | Persistent or recurrent experiences of detachment from one's mental processes or body (depersonalization) or of being detached from one's surroundings (derealization) |
| Other Specified Dissociative Disorder (OSDD) | Significant dissociative symptoms that do not fully meet criteria for the above disorders |
| Unspecified Dissociative Disorder | Dissociative symptoms causing distress or impairment where a clinician chooses not to specify the reason criteria are not met |
DID sits at the severe end of the spectrum and is distinguished from OSDD primarily by the completeness of identity disruption and the severity of amnesia between states.
Which scales assess dissociation?
Clinicians and researchers use several complementary scales and interviews to assess dissociation, each suited to different assessment contexts. The DES-II is a common screener, while the SCID-D is the criterion-standard diagnostic interview.
| Scale | Type | Items | Primary purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| DES-II | Self-report | 28 | Dimensional screening for dissociation frequency across three domains; ≥30 cutoff for follow-up [2] |
| SCID-D / SCID-D-R | Clinician-administered | Multiple structured sections across 5 symptom clusters | Criterion-standard diagnostic interview assessing amnesia, depersonalization, derealization, identity confusion, and identity alteration; good-to-excellent reliability [3] [8] |
| Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation — MID | Self-report | 218 | Comprehensive assessment of 14 facets of pathological dissociation; includes diagnostic scales for DID; designed for complex presentations with mixed dissociative, posttraumatic and borderline symptoms [7] |
| Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule — DDIS | Structured interview | Multiple sections | Structured interview assessing DSM dissociative disorder diagnoses, somatic symptoms, secondary features of DID, and childhood trauma history |
The SCID-D-R systematically evaluates five core dissociative symptom clusters (amnesia, depersonalization, derealization, identity confusion, and identity alteration) and rates the severity of each [3]. Investigations in the United States and abroad have reported good-to-excellent reliability and validity for the SCID-D-R [8].
How is DID treated?
Treatment for DID is usually phase-based trauma therapy, and phase-oriented, empirically guided treatments are emerging [4]:
- Phase 1. Safety, stabilization and symptom management.
- Phase 2. Trauma processing, for example with EMDR or modified CPT.
- Phase 3. Integration and rehabilitation.
The ISSTD (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation) publishes treatment guidelines for adults with DID. Treatment is typically long-term.
Related measures
DID screening is often paired with the PCL-5 for PTSD symptoms and the PHQ-9 for depression, in complex PTSD and dissociative disorder programs.
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
Billing
In the US, the DID Test (Dissociative Identity Disorder) is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
- Publisher
- Carlson & Putnam (1993)
- First published
- 1986
- Terms
- The authors permit it to be copied, distributed or reproduced for research and clinical use.
Assessments
- ACE Score
- CDC Scoring · Child Dissociative Checklist (Version 3)
- Childhood Trauma Test (ACE Score)
- Bipolar Test (MDQ)
- MDQ: Mood Disorder Questionnaire
- Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS): Scoring and Cutoffs
Dot size shows how strongly each scale's condition is linked to this one in HiBoop's co-occurrence map.
FAQ
What does a DES-II score of 30 or above mean?
A score of 30 or above is the widely used screening threshold for identifying individuals who may warrant a more thorough dissociation evaluation, based on a 1993 multicenter study. It does not diagnose DID or any other condition. The majority of people who score above 30 do not have DID — the positive predictive value in the original study was only 17%, meaning most high scorers have other trauma-related conditions such as PTSD or borderline personality disorder.
Is the DES-II self-report or clinician-administered?
The DES-II is a self-report questionnaire. Respondents rate the frequency of 28 dissociative experiences on a 0–100 scale, and the final score is the mean across all items. It is used as a screening tool, not for diagnosis. Full diagnosis of a dissociative disorder requires clinician-administered assessment, most rigorously with the SCID-D (Structured Clinical Interview for Dissociative Disorders).
Can the DES-II diagnose DID?
No. The DES-II cannot diagnose DID or any dissociative disorder. A high score signals that a thorough clinical evaluation is warranted, including a structured diagnostic interview such as the SCID-D. Diagnosis requires clinician assessment of all DSM-5-TR criteria for DID, including identity disruption, amnesia, and significant functional impairment.
How long does it take to complete the DES-II?
The DES-II has 28 items and no time limit. Items ask about the percentage of time (0–100%) a person experiences various dissociative phenomena such as amnesia, absorption, depersonalization, and derealization.
References
- 1.Bernstein EM, Putnam FW. Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1986;174(12):727-35.
- 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.
- 3.Steinberg M, Rounsaville B, Cicchetti DV. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R Dissociative Disorders: preliminary report on a new diagnostic instrument. Am J Psychiatry. 1990;147(1):76-82.
- 4.Dorahy MJ, Brand BL, Sar V, et al. Dissociative identity disorder: An empirical overview. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 2014;48(5):402-17.
- 5.Dubester KA, Braun BG. Psychometric properties of the Dissociative Experiences Scale. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1995;183(4):231-5.
- 6.Sar V, Akyüz G, Doğan O. Prevalence of dissociative disorders among women in the general population. Psychiatry Res. 2007;149(1-3):169-76.
- 7.Dell PF. The multidimensional inventory of dissociation (MID): a comprehensive measure of pathological dissociation. J Trauma Dissociation. 2006;7(2):77-106.
- 8.Steinberg M. Advances in the clinical assessment of dissociation: the SCID-D-R. Bull Menninger Clin. 2000;64(2):146-63.
DES-II © Carlson & Putnam (1993). The authors permit it to be copied, distributed or reproduced for research and clinical use.
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