Introduction
DES-II asks how often experiences such as absorption, memory gaps, detachment from oneself and a sense of unreality occur. Its 28 questions use percentage choices to describe frequency.
Being deeply absorbed in an activity and losing important stretches of memory can differ greatly in their impact. The questionnaire brings several experiences together, so examples of what happened and how daily life was affected help explain a total.
Shut-D focuses more narrowly on shutdown-type bodily and sensory experiences. PC-PTSD-5 asks about trauma-related symptoms. These tools approach different aspects of experience; choosing one begins with the phenomenon you want to describe, rather than assuming all three measure the same thing.
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).
Scoring and result metrics
The result page reports a local screening score for this questionnaire. Use the score range, any subscale scores, and the interpretation band together rather than treating one number as a diagnosis.
- Score range
- 0-100
- Items scored
- 28
- Result indicators
- Total score / Interpretation band when available
Score interpretation bands
- 0-30Lower range
Scores of 30 and below indicate low levels of dissociation.
- 30.01-100Elevated range
Scores above 30 indicate high levels of dissociation.
Interpretation bands summarize screening thresholds from the questionnaire source material. Higher scores usually indicate more of the measured concern unless the tool notes a different scoring rule.
Tool information
- Version
- 28 questions
- Administration
- Self-report
- Intended audience
- Adults reviewing dissociative experiences such as absorption, depersonalization, derealization, and memory gaps; adolescents should use professional guidance
Sources
Related tests
Explore related screening tools in the same topic area.
Primary Care PTSD Screen (DSM-5) (PC-PTSD-5)
PC-PTSD-5 begins with a question about exposure to a traumatic event, followed by five questions about recent responses.
Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG)
The Inventory of Complicated Grief asks about experiences after someone has died, including preoccupation, painful memories, disbelief and difficulty reconnecting with ordinary activities.
Trauma-Related Shame Inventory (TRSI-24)
The Trauma-Related Shame Inventory asks about how a traumatic experience affects views of oneself and expectations of how others see you.