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A validation study of the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale
Susan M Keck Seeley1, Sandra L Perosa, Linda M Perosa
1Marion City Schools, Marion, OH, USA.
Child Abuse & Neglect
|July 21, 2004
Summary
The Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) shows promise for screening adolescents for pathological dissociation. It demonstrated internal consistency and differentiated between sexually abused and non-abused youth.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Background:
- Dissociative disorders are complex mental health conditions.
- Accurate screening tools are crucial for early intervention in adolescents.
- The Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) requires further validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Adolescent Dissociative Experiences Scale (A-DES) using a modified 6-item Likert response format.
- To assess the internal reliability and construct validity of the A-DES in a clinical and non-clinical adolescent sample.
Main Methods:
- Examined internal reliability and construct validity of the A-DES.
- Sample: 65 females (11-18 years), divided into non-clinical (n=34) and clinical (sexually abused, n=31) groups.
- Utilized A-DES, Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), and Trauma History Form.
Main Results:
- A-DES effectively discriminated between non-clinical and clinical sexually abused adolescents.
- A-DES showed significant moderate correlations with CBCL behavior problem scales (Total, Internalizing, Externalizing).
- A-DES did not differentiate between adolescents with PTSD and other psychiatric diagnoses in post hoc analyses.
Conclusions:
- The A-DES items are internally consistent.
- The A-DES demonstrates potential as a screening tool for pathological dissociation in adolescents.
- Further research may refine its diagnostic utility.