Advances in Clinical Assessment

This chapter is intended to help mental health professionals become familiar with distinguishing dissociative disorders from schizophrenia based on systematic research using standardized tests. Several dissociative screening and diagnostic instruments are reviewed for their contribution to our knowledge of overlapping and distinguishing symptoms between the dissociative and psychotic populations. Individuals with schizophrenia and dissociative identity disorder (DID) experience some of the same symptoms, with these shared symptoms referred to here as 'overlapping symptoms'. Screening tests are self-administered instruments intended to provide a preliminary screen for particular symptoms and diagnoses. The Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) is a self-report scale that allows clinicians to rapidly screen for pathological dissociation. The Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) is a structured interview that diagnoses dissociative disorders, borderline personality, major depression, and substance abuse. Early detection of dissociative disorders in patients with psychotic presentations is essential for preventing years of misdiagnosis, ineffective treatment, and emotional suffering.