Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)

Introduction
The Dissociative Experiences Scale is designed to assess a broad spectrum of dissociative phenomena. This encompasses a range from problematic dissociative states, such as those associated with dissociative disorders, to benign instances like daydreaming. It serves as a pivotal screening instrument for identifying potential dissociative disorders, with a particular focus on conditions like Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder) and Dissociative Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, which is currently termed Other Specified Dissociative Disorder. Individuals grappling with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) frequently exhibit elevated scores on this scale, highlighting the intricate link between PTSD symptoms and dissociative experiences.

This tool, now in its enhanced second iteration, offers a more user-friendly scoring process compared to its predecessor, making it more accessible for both participants and researchers. As a self-assessment instrument, the Dissociative Experiences Scale plays a crucial role in identifying those who may benefit from a comprehensive clinical evaluation for dissociative disorders, thereby acting as a gateway to further diagnostic exploration and potential treatment pathways. Its widespread acceptance and translation into numerous languages underscore its global applicability and the recognition of its importance in the fields of trauma and dissociative disorders. The DES-II remains a valuable resource for professionals seeking to understand and address the impacts of trauma and dissociation.

Instructions
This questionnaire asks about experiences that you may have in your daily life. It is interested in how often you have these experiences. It is important that your answers show how often these experiences happen to you when you are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs. To answer the questions, please determine to what degree each experience described in the question applies to you, and select the number to show what percentage of the time you have experienced it (0% = Never, 100% = Always).

  1. Some people have the experience of driving or riding in a car or bus or subway and suddenly realizing that they don’t remember what has happened during all or part of the trip. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  2. Some people find that sometimes they are listening to someone talk and they suddenly realize that they did not hear part or all of what was said. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  3. Some people have the experience of finding themselves in a place and have no idea how they got there. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  4. Some people have the experience of finding themselves dressed in clothes that they don’t remember putting on. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  5. Some people have the experience of finding new things among their belongings that they do not remember buying. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  6. Some people sometimes find that they are approached by people that they do not know, who call them by another name or insist that they have met them before. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  7. Some people sometimes have the experience of feeling as though they are standing next to themselves or watching themselves do something and they actually see themselves as if they were looking at another person. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  8. Some people are told that they sometimes do not recognize friends or family members. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  9. Some people find that they have no memory for some important events in their lives (for example, a wedding or graduation). Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  10. Some people have the experience of being accused of lying when they do not think that they have lied. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  11. Some people have the experience of looking in a mirror and not recognizing themselves. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  12. Some people have the experience of feeling that other people, objects, andthe world around them are not real. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  13. Some people have the experience of feeling that their body does not seem to belong to them. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  14. Some people have the experience of sometimes remembering a past event so vividly that they feel as if they were reliving that event. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  15. Some people have the experience of not being sure whether things that they remember happening really did happen or whether they just dreamed them. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  16. Some people have the experience of being in a familiar place but finding it strange and unfamiliar. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  17. Some people find that when they are watching television or a movie they become so absorbed in the story that they are unaware of other events happening around them. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  18. Some people find that they become so involved in a fantasy or daydream that it feels as though it were really happening to them. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  19. Some people find that they sometimes are able to ignore pain. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  20. Some people find that they sometimes sit staring off into space, thinking of nothing, and are not aware of the passage of time. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  21. Some people sometimes find that when they are alone they talk out loud to themselves. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  22. Some people find that in one situation they may act so differently compared with another situation that they feel almost as if they were two different people. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  23. Some people sometimes find that in certain situations they are ableto do things with amazing ease and spontaneity that would usually be difficult for them (for example, sports, work, social situations, etc.). Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  24. Some people sometimes find that they cannot remember whether they have done something or have just thought about doing that thing (for example, not knowing whether they have just mailed a letter or have just thought about mailing it). Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  25. Some people find evidence that they have done things that they do not remember doing. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  26. Some people sometimes find writings, drawings, or notes among their belongings that they must have done but cannot remember doing. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  27. Some people sometimes find that they hear voices inside their head that tell them to do things or comment on things that they are doing. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
  28. Some people sometimes feel as if they are looking at the world through a fog, so that people and objects appear far away or unclear. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
Sources
  1. , . Dissociation 6(1): 16-27 ().