Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)
The Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) is a 28-item questionnaire used to measure how often a person experiences different forms of dissociation, including experiences involving memory, awareness, identity, depersonalization and absorption. Complete the interactive DES-II below to calculate your average score and learn more about what your result may mean.
For each experience, select the percentage that best represents how often it happens to you when you are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II)?
The DES-II is a 28-item self-report questionnaire designed to measure the frequency of dissociative experiences. It is the second version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale developed by Eve Bernstein Carlson and Frank W. Putnam and uses an easier scoring format than the original DES.
What does the DES-II measure?
The DES-II measures a broad range of dissociative experiences. The instrument includes experiences involving memory and awareness as well as depersonalization, derealization and absorption-like experiences. Importantly, dissociation occurs to some degree outside clinical disorders as well, so the questionnaire is not designed to treat every endorsed experience as pathological.
What does the DES-II measure?
The DES-II measures a broad range of dissociative experiences. The instrument includes experiences involving memory and awareness as well as depersonalization, derealization and absorption-like experiences. Importantly, dissociation occurs to some degree outside clinical disorders as well, so the questionnaire is not designed to treat every endorsed experience as pathological.
What does the DES-II measure?
The DES-II measures a broad range of dissociative experiences. The instrument includes experiences involving memory and awareness as well as depersonalization, derealization and absorption-like experiences. Importantly, dissociation occurs to some degree outside clinical disorders as well, so the questionnaire is not designed to treat every endorsed experience as pathological.
How is the DES-II scored?
Each question is answered on a scale from 0% to 100%, in 10% increments. The responses to all 28 questions are averaged, producing a DES-II score between 0 and 100.
What does a DES-II score of 30 or higher mean?
A score of 30 or higher has commonly been used to identify people with higher levels of dissociation who may benefit from further assessment. It does not establish that someone has a dissociative disorder.
Can the DES-II diagnose dissociative identity disorder (DID)?
No. The DES-II is a screening and measurement instrument, not a diagnostic test. A higher score can indicate that more detailed assessment of dissociative symptoms may be useful, but diagnosis requires additional clinical assessment.
Does a very high DES-II score mean someone has a more severe dissociative disorder?
Not necessarily. The DES-II measures a range of experiences, including experiences that are not necessarily pathological. The source specifically cautions that a very high DES score does not automatically mean that a more severe dissociative disorder is present.
Can someone have a dissociative disorder with a DES-II score below 30?
Yes. A score below 30 should not be interpreted as ruling out a dissociative disorder. The DES-II is intended to assist screening and assessment rather than provide a definitive diagnostic result.
Is the DES-II intended for children or teenagers?
The DES was developed for adults aged 18 and older. Carlson and Putnam specifically cautioned that its language and experiences may not be appropriate for younger people.
Who developed the DES-II?
The original Dissociative Experiences Scale was developed by Eve Bernstein and Frank W. Putnam and published in 1986. Carlson and Putnam subsequently published the DES-II in their 1993 update, with the second version designed to be easier to score.
