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Assessing dissociative symptoms in eating disordered patients: Construct validation of two self‐report measures
Author(s) -
Gleaves David H.,
Eberenz Kathleen P.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/1098-108x(199507)18:1<99::aid-eat2260180111>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - dissociative , psychology , construct validity , discriminant validity , dissociation (chemistry) , dissociative disorders , convergent validity , dissociative experiences scale , clinical psychology , psychometrics , test validity , checklist , psychiatry , cognition , internal consistency , cognitive psychology , chemistry , schizotypy
Dissociative symptomatology has been reported among patients with eating disorders, necessitating the availability of valid assessment instruments. In the current investigation, we examined the construct‐related validity of two self‐report instruments for assessing dissociative symptoms: the Dissociative Experiences Scale and the Trauma Symptom Checklist‐40. The instruments were administered, along with instruments measuring depressive, anorexic, and bulimic symptomatology, to a sample of 125 eating disordered subjects. The dissociation measures demonstrated good convergent and discriminant validity, with a convergent validity coefficient (r = .73) that was approximately equal to that for the instruments measuring each of the three other psychological constructs. A principal components analysis further supported the construct‐related validity of the dissociation scales. Severity of dissociative symptoms was generally unrelated to anorexic or bulimic symptomatology, but was significantly associated with depression. The results supported the construct validity of the dissociation instruments and the general status of dissociation as a valid and well‐defined psychological phenomenon. © 1995 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.