Self-test · DES-II

Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II)

Twenty-eight questions about experiences many people have in daily life, such as spacing out, losing track of time or feeling detached. You rate how much of the time each one happens to you.

28 questionsAbout 10 minConfidential resultValidated scientific scale
Read about the test before you start

Ready to start?

This questionnaire asks about experiences you may have in your daily life. We are 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. For each question, choose the percentage of the time that the experience happens to you (0% = never, 100% = always).

1Read each question calmly
2Pick what fits you best
3See your result and what it means
At the end we email you your result and save it in your account.
Question 1

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Enter your details and we’ll email you your result and what it means, and save it in your Kind Mind account so you can follow changes.

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Result

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What does your result mean? Read the details below

This test is an awareness tool and does not replace a diagnosis by a specialist.

What is the DES-II?

The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES-II) is a well-established questionnaire developed by Eve Bernstein Carlson and Frank Putnam. It looks at dissociation — times when the usual connection between your thoughts, memories, feelings, surroundings or sense of self is interrupted. Some dissociation is completely ordinary: almost everyone has driven somewhere on “autopilot” or been lost in a good book. When these experiences become frequent or intense, though, they can be linked to stress, trauma or a dissociative condition.

Each of the 28 questions is rated from 0% to 100% of the time. Your overall score is the average of all answers, from 0 to 100. Scores of 30 or more are commonly used as a sign that a fuller assessment would be helpful.

Who should take it?

The DES-II is designed for adults. You may find it useful if you often feel detached or unreal, lose chunks of time, find things you don’t remember doing, or have been through difficult or traumatic experiences and want to understand your reactions better.

How to take it

For each question, think about how often it happens to you when you are not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and choose the percentage of time that fits best. There are no right or wrong answers. It takes around ten minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Does this test diagnose a dissociative disorder?

No. The DES-II is a screening tool. A high score suggests that it would be worth talking to a professional, who can carry out a proper assessment.

Is dissociation always a problem?

Not at all. Absorption and daydreaming are part of normal life. Dissociation becomes a concern when it is frequent, distressing or gets in the way of daily life.

Can dissociation be treated?

Yes. Therapy, especially trauma-informed approaches, can help people feel more grounded and connected and reduce distressing dissociative experiences.

What does your result mean?

  1. 0 – 29.99Within the usual rangeCommon, everyday experiences
  2. 30 – 100High – assessment recommendedWorth discussing with a specialist

Your result is not a diagnosis, it is an indicator. A therapist reads it together with your whole story.

Medical review and sources

Sources: Bernstein EM, Putnam FW. Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 1986;174(12):727–735. Carlson EB, Putnam FW. An update on the Dissociative Experiences Scale. Dissociation. 1993;6(1):16–27.
Rights: DES-II © Eve Bernstein Carlson and Frank W. Putnam. Used with permission.
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