Important Disclaimer
This screening measures the frequency of dissociative experiences and is for educational purposes only. It does NOT diagnose DID or any dissociative disorder. High scores may reflect various conditions including PTSD, anxiety, or normal variations. Only a licensed professional can provide a diagnosis.
What This Assessment Measures
- Amnestic dissociation: Gaps in memory for personal experiences
- Absorption and imaginative involvement: Deep immersion in fantasy or activities
- Depersonalization: Feeling detached from one's body or self
- Derealization: Feeling that surroundings are unreal or dreamlike
- Identity confusion and alteration
28
Questions
8–12
Minutes
100%
Confidential
The 28 Questions
Every question is answered on the same scale: 0% – Never, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% – Always.
- 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.
- 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.
- Some people have the experience of finding themselves in a place and having no idea how they got there.
- Some people have the experience of finding themselves dressed in clothes that they don't remember putting on.
- Some people have the experience of finding new things among their belongings that they do not remember buying.
- 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.
- Some people sometimes have the experience of feeling as though they are standing next to themselves or watching themselves do something, as if looking at another person.
- Some people are told that they sometimes do not recognize friends or family members.
- Some people find that they have no memory of some important events in their lives (for example, a wedding or graduation).
- Some people have the experience of being accused of lying when they do not think that they have lied.
- Some people have the experience of looking in a mirror and not recognizing themselves.
- Some people have the experience of feeling that other people, objects, and the world around them are not real.
- Some people have the experience of feeling that their body does not seem to belong to them.
- Some people have the experience of sometimes remembering a past event so vividly that they feel as if they were reliving that event.
- Some people have the experience of not being sure whether things that they remember happening really did happen or whether they just dreamed them.
- Some people have the experience of being in a familiar place but finding it strange and unfamiliar.
- 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.
- Some people find that they become so involved in a fantasy or daydream that it feels as though it were really happening to them.
- Some people find that they sometimes are able to ignore pain.
- Some people find that they sometimes sit staring off into space, thinking of nothing, and are not aware of the passage of time.
- Some people sometimes find that when they are alone they talk out loud to themselves.
- 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.
- Some people sometimes find that in certain situations they are able to do things with amazing ease and spontaneity that would usually be difficult for them.
- Some people sometimes find that they cannot remember whether they have done something or have just thought about doing that thing.
- Some people find evidence that they have done things that they do not remember doing.
- Some people sometimes find writings, drawings, or notes among their belongings that they must have done but cannot remember doing.
- 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.
- 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.
About the DID Screening
The DES was originally developed by Eve Bernstein Carlson and Frank Putnam in 1986. The DES-II (1993) revised the response format from a visual analogue scale to a percentage-based format for easier scoring and improved reliability.
The DES-II is the most widely used screening instrument for dissociative disorders and has been translated into over 20 languages. It measures dissociative experiences that occur in everyday life — some of which are normal (like daydreaming or highway hypnosis) and others that may indicate pathological dissociation.
It is important to note that dissociative experiences exist on a spectrum. Many people experience mild dissociation (like getting lost in a book), and this is entirely normal. The DES-II helps identify when dissociative experiences may be more frequent or intense than typical, potentially warranting further clinical evaluation.
This screening does NOT diagnose Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) or any other dissociative disorder. A comprehensive clinical assessment is required for diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DES-II?+
The Dissociative Experiences Scale II (DES-II) is a 28-item self-report screening tool that measures the frequency of dissociative experiences. It was developed by Carlson and Putnam and is the most widely used dissociation screening instrument worldwide.
Does a high score mean I have DID?+
No. A high DES-II score indicates frequent dissociative experiences, but these can occur in many conditions including PTSD, borderline personality disorder, anxiety disorders, and even in response to extreme stress or sleep deprivation. Only a comprehensive clinical evaluation can determine if a dissociative disorder is present.
How is the DES-II scored?+
Your percentage responses (0-100%) for all 28 items are averaged to produce a mean score. Scores of 0-10 are normal, 11-20 mildly elevated, 21-30 moderately elevated, and above 30 are considered high and warrant clinical attention.
Are some dissociative experiences normal?+
Yes. Many dissociative experiences are normal and common, such as daydreaming, highway hypnosis, getting absorbed in a book or movie, or momentarily forgetting where you parked. The DES-II captures a range from normal to pathological dissociation.
Are my responses stored?+
No. All responses remain completely private and local to your browser. No data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any server.
References
- Carlson EB, Putnam FW. An update on the Dissociative Experiences Scale. Dissociation. 1993;6(1):16-27.
- Bernstein EM, Putnam FW. Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1986;174(12):727-735.
- Van IJzendoorn MH, Schuengel C. The measurement of dissociation in normal and clinical populations. Clin Psychol Rev. 1996;16(5):365-382.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). 2013.