Brief Description
The Dissociative Experiences Scale-Brief (DES-B) is an 8-item self-report questionnaire designed to screen for dissociative symptoms. It is a shortened version of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Respondents rate the frequency with which they experienced dissociative experiences over the past seven days. Dissociative experiences assessed include memory lapses, depersonalization, and derealization, which are common in dissociative disorders and trauma-related conditions. For example, one item asks, “People, objects, or the world around me seem strange or unreal,” with responses ranging from “Not at all” to “More than once a day.” It is widely used in both clinical and research settings to aid in screening and assessment.
Assessment Administration Type
Self-report
Number of questions
8
Age Range for Administration
18+
Recommended Frequency of Administration
Weekly
Summary of Scoring and Interpretations
The DES-B consists of 8 items scored on a 5-point Likert scale with values ranging from 0 (Not at all) to 4 (More than once a day). The total raw score is obtained by summing the scores of all 8 items, with total raw scores ranging 0 to 32. To calculate the average total score, the total raw score is divided by 8, yielding a severity rating on a 5-point scale (0–4). The results of the average total score are interpreted as follows:
Score | Interpretation |
0 | None |
1 | Mild |
2 | Moderate |
3 | Severe |
4 | Extreme |
When interpreting both raw scores and total average scores, higher scores indicate greater severity of dissociative symptoms.
Blueprint Adjustments
N/A
Clinical Considerations
Estimated completion time: 2-4 minutes
While the DES-B is a valuable screening tool, it should be followed by a comprehensive clinical evaluation for a formal diagnosis of dissociative disorders.
Given the potential sensitivity of dissociative experiences, it's important to approach administration and interpretation in a trauma-informed manner.
Citation
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