Screening instruments for dissociative disorders: Their evaluation in a college population.

Abstract

In the interest of early identification and prevention of dissociative disorders, this author has contributed to the research history of various screening instruments and has commented on the degree to which such instruments are appropriate for screening subjects in a college population. The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES; Bernstein & Putnam & Putnam, 1986) was administered to approximately 2500 college freshmen. Subjects from various levels of the distribution of DES scores were recalled to the laboratory for further testing on the abbreviated version of the Structured Clinical Interview for Dissociative Disorders (Mini-SCID-D) (Steinberg, Rounsaville & Cicchetti, 1987) to determine how many of these subjects might actually qualify for a diagnosis of dissociative disorder. The results of this study supported the factor structure of the DES as reported by Ross, Joshi, and Currie (1991). In addition, the DES evidenced a significant predictive relationship with the Mini SCID-D. The research was designed to screen a population at large for dissociative tendencies, the results of which will be useful to people who wish to identify ostensibly normal individuals who may be at risk for dissociative disorders. This research was supported in part by Grant #MH35856 from the National Institute of Mental Health to John F. Kihlstrom.