Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)
Directions:
This questionnaire consists of twenty-eight questions about experiences that 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 circle the number to show what percentage of the time you have the experience. Or, as you
answer each question, write down the number that applies to you, and select the number to show what
percentage of the time you have the experience.
For Example: (never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
As you answer each question, write down the number that applies to each question. There are 28
questions, so use pen and paper to record your answers.
1. Some people have the experience of driving a car and suddenly realizing that they
don’t remember what has happened during all or part of the trip. Circle a number to show
what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
2. Some people find that sometimes they are listening to someone talk and they suddenly
realize that they did not hear all or part of what was said. Circle a number to show what
percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
3. Some people have the experience of finding themselves in a place and having no idea how
they got there. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
4. Some people have the experience of finding themselves dressed in clothes that they
don’t remember putting on. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens
to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
5. Some people have the experience of finding new things among their belongings that they
do not remember buying. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to
you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
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. Circle a number to
Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)
show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
7. Some people sometimes have the experience of feeling as though they are standing next
to themselves or watching themselves do something as if they were looking at another
person. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
8. Some people are told that they sometimes do not recognize friends or family members.
Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
9. Some people find that they have no memory for some important events in their lives (for
example, a wedding or graduation). Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this
happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
10. Some people have the experience of being accused of lying when they do not think that
they have lied. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
11. Some people have the experience of looking in a mirror and not recognizing
themselves. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
12. Some people sometimes have the experience of feeling that other people, objects, and
the world around them are not real. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this
happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
13. Some people sometimes have the experience of feeling that their body does not belong
to them. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
14. Some people have the experience of sometimes remembering a past event so vividly
that they feel as if they were reliving that event. Circle a number to show what percentage of
the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
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Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)
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. Circle a number to show
what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
16. Some people have the experience of being in a familiar place but finding it strange and
unfamiliar. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
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. Circle
a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
18. Some people sometimes find that they become so involved in a fantasy or daydream
that it feels as though it were really happening to them. Circle a number to show what
percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
19. Some people find that they are sometimes able to ignore pain. Circle a number to show
what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
20. Some people find that they sometimes sit staring off into space, thinking of nothing,
and are not aware of the passage of time. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time
this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
21. Some people sometimes find that when they are alone they talk out loud to themselves.
Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
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 different people. Circle a number to
show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
23. 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 (for example, sports,
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Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)
work, social situations, etc.). Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens
to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
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). Circle a number to show
what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
25. Some people find evidence that they have done things that they do not remember
doing. Circle a number to show what percentage of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
26. Some people sometimes find writings, drawings, or notes among their belongings that
they must have done but cannot remember doing. Circle a number to show what percentage
of the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
27. Some people find that they sometimes hear voices inside their head that tell them to do
things or comment on things that they are doing. Circle a number to show what percentage of
the time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)
28. Some people sometimes feels as if they are looking at the world through a fog so that
people or objects appear far away or unclear. Circle a number to show what percentage of the
time this happens to you.
(never) 0% 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100% (always)