A validation study of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to further the validation process of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES). In this study, a 6-item Likert response format with descriptors was used when responding to the A-DES rather than the 11-item response format used in the original A-DES. Method: The internal reliability and construct validity of the A-DES were examined by analyzing the relationships between A-DES scores, sexual abuse, and behavior. The sample consisted of 65 females ranging in age from 11 to 18 who were categorized into two groups. Thirty-four adolescents who were not in therapy and who denied a history of traumatic experiences formed the nonclinical group. Thirty-one sexually abused adolescents who were currently receiving therapy formed the clinical group. The adolescent participants completed the A-DES, their parent or guardian completed a measure of behavior (the Child Behavior Checklist—CBCL), and the therapists of the clinical adolescents completed a Trauma History Form. Results: The A-DES discriminated between the nonclinical and clinical sexually abused adolescents. However, in post hoc analyses, the A-DES did not discriminate between PTSD adolescents and those with other psychiatric diagnoses. Significant moderate correlations were found between the A-DES and the CBCL Total behavior problem scale and Internalizing and Externalizing scales. Conclusions: The A-DES items are internally consistent, and the A-DES shows promise for screening adolescents for pathological dissociation.