Dissociative disorders measures

Dissociation is a complex concept that involves at least two different types of phenomena: the compartmentalization of psychological processes such as memory or identity that should ordinarily be integrated, and alterations of consciousness characterized by experiential detachment from the self and/or the environment. Although there are non-pathological manifestations of dissociation, this chapter covers measures for the detection of pathological dissociation and for the diagnosis of the DSM-IV dissociative disorders (dissociative amnesia, dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder, depersonalization disorder, and dissociative disorder not otherwise specified). The instruments included in this section evaluate clinical and non-clinical dissociation (e.g., the Dissociative Experiences Scale [DES]) and help diagnose dissociative disorders according to DSM-IV criteria (e.g., the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule [DDIS]).