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. The score is the mean of all items, from 0 to 100; a score of 30 or above warrants clinical evaluation for a dissociative disorder.
For professional reference, research, and education only. Not for diagnosis or medical advice.
DES Score Interpreter
Enter a total score to see its range.
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.
The DES (Dissociative Experiences Scale) is a 28-item self-report questionnaire that measures how often a person has dissociative experiences, and one of the most widely used dissociation tests. The score is the mean of all items, from 0 to 100 [1], and a score of 30 or above warrants clinical evaluation for a dissociative disorder [2]. A full reference page for the scale is at DES.
What does the DES measure?
Dissociation is a lack of the normal integration of thoughts, feelings and experiences into consciousness and memory. Some dissociation occurs in people without a mental illness [1], as in daydreaming or absorption in a book. Frequent, distressing dissociation is associated with trauma exposure, PTSD and dissociative disorders, including dissociative identity disorder (DID) and depersonalization/derealization disorder.
A dissociation test measures how often dissociative experiences happen across three clusters:
- Amnesia: gaps in memory or recall.
- Depersonalization and derealization: feeling detached from one's body or surroundings.
- Absorption and imaginative involvement: intense focus that limits awareness of surroundings.
The DES was built as a 28-item self-report measure of dissociation in clinical and non-clinical groups [1]. The DES-T (Taxon) is an 8-item subset used to estimate the probability of pathological dissociation [4]. For post-traumatic stress symptoms, see the PCL-5.
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.
Types of dissociative experiences
The DES captures three types of dissociative experience, matching the scale's subscales [3]:
| 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 |
In a clinical sample, subscale test-retest reliability was .95 (amnesia), .89 (depersonalization/derealization) and .82 (absorption), and the three subscales were distinct from one another [3].
Taxometric analyses separate a pathological type of dissociation, measured by the 8-item DES-T, from the everyday kind [4]. A raised total is therefore not by itself evidence of pathological dissociation.
How do you give the DES?
The DES is a self-report questionnaire of 28 items [1]. Each item asks how often, from 0% to 100%, a person has a specific dissociative experience. No clinician is needed to give it, but a trained clinician should interpret the score.
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.
How do you score and interpret the DES?
The DES score is the mean of all 28 item scores, so it runs from 0 to 100 [1].
- Screening cutoff. In the multicenter validation study of 1,051 participants, the scale had 76% sensitivity and 76–85% specificity for dissociative identity disorder, and a cutoff of 30 gave similar results [2].
- DES-T. The 8-item DES-T is scored separately to estimate the probability of belonging to the pathological dissociation taxon. In two North American samples, about 3.3% of participants fell in that taxon [4].
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 [3].
- Validity. The original study showed good split-half reliability, significant item-scale correlations, and differentiation between eight clinical and non-clinical groups [1].
- Screening accuracy. In 1,051 participants, sensitivity was 76% and specificity 76–85% for dissociative identity disorder [2].
Limitations
- Screening, not diagnosis. In the validation study, an estimated 17% of those scoring 30 or higher would have dissociative identity disorder [2]; a structured interview such as the SCID-D is needed to confirm.
- Everyday dissociation. Some dissociation occurs in people without a mental illness [1], so a raised total is not on its own evidence of a disorder.
- Self-report. Memory gaps and limited awareness can affect what respondents report.
- Outcome research. The DES as originally designed is not appropriate as a dependent measure in outcome research [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
Billing
In the US, the Dissociation Test (DES Guide) is usually billed under these CPT codes. Payer rules vary.
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 score of 30 or higher mean?
A mean DES score of 30 or higher is the usual screening threshold: further evaluation for a dissociative disorder is warranted. It is not a diagnosis. In the multicenter validation study of 1,051 participants, the scale had 76% sensitivity and 76–85% specificity for dissociative identity disorder, and the cutoff of 30 gave similar results.
Is the DES self-report or clinician-administered?
The DES is a self-report questionnaire. Respondents rate how often, from 0% to 100%, they have each of 28 dissociative experiences. No clinician is needed to give it, but a trained clinician should interpret the score.
Can the DES diagnose dissociative identity disorder?
No. The DES is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test. A high score means a structured clinical interview, such as the SCID-D, is appropriate. In the multicenter validation study, an estimated 17% of those scoring 30 or higher would actually have dissociative identity disorder, so a confirming interview matters.
What are the three subscales of the DES?
The DES yields three subscale scores: amnesia (lapses in memory or recall), depersonalization/derealization (feeling detached from one's body or surroundings), and absorption (intense attentional focus that limits awareness of other stimuli). In a clinical sample, test-retest reliability was .95, .89 and .82 for these three subscales.
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.Dubester KA, Braun BG. Psychometric properties of the Dissociative Experiences Scale. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1995;183(4):231-5.
- 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.
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