Psychoform and somatoform dissociation among children and adolescents: An evaluation of a new short screening instrument for dissociation, DSQ-12 - 04/08/19

Doi : 10.1016/j.ejtd.2019.07.001

D. Nilsson ^a,^b,⁎ , S. Green ^a, C.G. Svedin ^b, Ö. Dahlström ^a
^a Institution for Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Department Psychology Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
^b Barnafrid–National Competence Centre for Child Abuse, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58183 Linköping, Sweden

^⁎Corresponding author at: Linköping University, Campus US, House 511, floor 12, 58183 Linköping, Sweden.Linköping UniversityCampus US, House 511, floor 12Linköping58183Sweden

Sous presse. Épreuves corrigées par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le Sunday 04 August 2019
Cet article a été publié dans un numéro de la revue, cliquez ici pour y accéder

Abstract

Introduction

Today's assessment instruments for dissociation among adolescents are either relatively extensive or are specifically designed to identify either psychoform or somatoform dissociation.

Objective

A questionnaire that is shorter than any of the existing questionnaires and is concerned with both forms of dissociation would be helpful for both clinicians and researchers.

Method

Existing data from 462 adolescents who had answered Dis-Q Sweden and SDQ-20 were used to create a new questionnaire consisting of 12 items. A pilot study with 42 participants 15-19 years old, was carried out to test this new instrument, Dissociation Screening Questionnaire 12 (DSQ-12). DSQ-12 was then tested on 451 adolescents 10 to 20 years old. A matched clinical group of 25 adolescents in the same age range was used, in order to test the classification performance of DSQ-12.

Results

Results showed good reliability, convergent and construct validity was satisfactory, and dissociation differed between age groups as well as between genders.

Conclusions

Conclusions are that the developed DSQ-12 performed well psychometrically, was reliable and valid. DSQ-12 is easy to answer and is suitable for clinical screening purposes and future research.

Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.

Keywords : DSQ-12, Psycho and somatoform dissociation, Children and adolescents, Psychometrics