Development and psychometric characteristics of the Dissociation Tension Scale.
The newly developed Dissoziations-Spannungs-Skala (Dissociation Tension Scale; DSS) is a self-rating instrument for the assessment of psychological and somatoform dissociative features (ranging from normal up to pathological) as well as aversive inner tension occurring within the past 7 days. The DSS contains 21 items assessing dissociative symptoms and 1 additional item assessing aversive inner tension. Ratings are made on a time-oriented scale ranging from 0% (never) to 100% (constantly). We measured the psychometric qualities of the DSS in a total of 294 patients and healthy controls. Internal consistency of the DSS was high (Cronbach's alpha = .92; Gutmann's split-half r = .92). We found good support for convergent, discriminant, and differential validity. There was clear evidence for the DSS being a sensitive instrument for the assessment of changing symptomatology. Assessment of dissociation and other psychopathological features over the same period of time are now possible.
Stiglmayr
Christian
C
Department of Education and Psychology, Freie University Berlin, Berlin, Germany. christian stiglmayr@web.de
Schimke
Patricia
P
Wagner
Till
T
Braakmann
Diana
D
Schweiger
Ulrich
U
Sipos
Valerija
V
Fydrich
Thomas
T
Schmahl
Christian
C
Ebner-Priemer
Ulrich
U
Kleindienst
Nikolaus
N
Bischkopf
Jeannette
J
Auckenthaler
Anna
A
Kienast
Thorsten
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000592:standards; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult