title: [Psychometric evaluation of the Dissociative Experiences Scale-Taxon (DES-T)].
abstract: Current refinements of the dissociation concept have arrived at the distinction between a dimensional, non-pathological type and a discontinuous, pathological class of dissociation, which can be identified by a subset of 8 items of the Dissociative Experiences Scale, the DES-Taxon (DES-T). This study reports on the psychometric evaluation of the German version of the DES-T in a large general population sample (n = 2,359). The distributions of all items and the total score of the DES-T emerged to be non-normal and right-skewed with a sharp peak. The internal consistency proved to be high (Cronbach's α = 0.92), and all items discriminated well with item-total correlations above 0.65. An explorative factor analysis revealed that all items loaded on the first, unrotated factor with loadings of a ≥ 0.7 (explained variance 64%). The DES-T is a one-dimensional measure as indicated by confirmatory factor analysis. There were no relevant associations between the DES-T, sociodemographic characteristics, depression or anxiety. The prevalence of pathological dissociation was 1.6% in the general population. The DES-T proved to be an economic and psychometrically sound self-report measure for the assessment of pathological dissociative phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Asklepios Fachklinikum Tiefenbrunn, Rosdorf.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universität Greifswald, Stralsund.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Freyberger
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Universität Leipzig.
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin Mainz.
authors.forename: Manfred E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Beutel
authors.affiliation: Psychiatrie, UPK Basel, Schweiz.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stieglitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult