The Dissociative Experiences Scale. Survivors of Narcissistic Abuse recovery therapist. Mark Zauss

The Dissociative Experiences Scale

The Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) is a self-report questionnaire used to measure the frequency and severity of dissociative experiences, such as depersonalization, derealization, absorption, and amnesia, across a spectrum from normal to clinically significant levels; it is considered the most widely used tool to assess dissociation and is often used as a screening tool for potential dissociative disorders, particularly Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

The Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II)

Directions: This questionnaire consists of twenty-eight questions about experiences and you may have in your daily life. We are interested in how often you have these experiences. It is important, however, 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 the experience described in the question applies to you, and select the number to show what percentage of the time do you have the experience
For Example: 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100%
Never Sometimes Always

* Indicates required field

Name *

First

Last

Email *

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 a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

12. Some people have the experience of feeling that other people, objects, and the world around them are not real. Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

23. Some people sometimes find that in certain situations they are able to do things with amazing ease and spontaneity that would usually difficulty for them (for example, sports, work, social situations, etc) Select the number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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*

Select One *

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. *

Select One *

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. *

Select One *

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*

Select One *

Submit

The Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II) is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure dissociative symptoms in individuals. It consists of 28 items, each scored on a 0 to 100 scale, reflecting the percentage of time a person experiences a given dissociative symptom.
Scoring Interpretation

Calculating the DES-II Score
- The score for each item ranges from 0 to 100 (e.g., "0%" means never, "100%" means always).
- The final score is obtained by averaging all 28 item scores (i.e., summing the scores and dividing by 28).
- The total DES-II score ranges from 0 to 100.
Score Interpretation:
- 0-10: Low dissociation (typical for general population)
- 11-20: Mild dissociation (somewhat above average)
- 21-30: Moderate dissociation (may indicate significant dissociative tendencies)
- 31-40: High dissociation (possible dissociative disorder)
- Above 40: Very high dissociation (strongly associated with dissociative disorders like DID)
Clinical Considerations:
- While higher scores (above 30-40) suggest a greater likelihood of a dissociative disorder (e.g., Dissociative Identity Disorder [DID], Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder, or PTSD), the DES-II is not diagnostic. It serves as a screening tool, and further clinical assessment is needed.
- People with PTSD, complex trauma, or severe stress may also score high, but additional structured interviews (e.g., SCID-D or MID) are needed for diagnosis.