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Development of a depersonalization severity scale
Author(s) -
Simeon Daphne,
Guralnik Orna,
Schmeidler James
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1023/a:1011169019614
Subject(s) - depersonalization , clinical psychology , psychology , inter rater reliability , discriminant validity , psychometrics , test validity , psychiatry , internal consistency , rating scale , emotional exhaustion , developmental psychology , burnout
Our aim was to develop a clinician‐rated scale assessing depersonalization severity for use in clinical trials of Depersonalization Disorder and trauma‐related disorders in general. The 6‐item Depersonalization Severity Scale (DSS) was administered to 63 participants with DSM‐IV Depersonalization Disorder as diagnosed by the SCID‐D, and its psychometric properties were examined. The sensitivity of the DSS and of the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) to treatment change was assessed in blinded, controlled settings. Individual items were widely distributed across the severity range. Interrater reliability was excellent and internal consistency was moderate. The DSS had high convergent and discriminant validity and was sensitive to treatment change. The DES was also sensitive to treatment change. We recommend piloting the DSS in future treatment trials of trauma‐spectrum disorders.