The Dissociative Subtype of PTSD Scale (DSPS): Initial Evaluation in a National Sample of Trauma-Exposed Veterans
E. Wolf, K. Mitchell, Naomi Sadeh, Christina L. Hein, Isaac Fuhrman, R. Pietrzak, Mark Miller
Assessment November 23, 2015 DOI: 10.1177/1073191115615212 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational survey (psychometric validation study) Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 697 |
| Population | Trauma-exposed U.S. military veterans representative of the U.S. veteran population |
| Measures | Dissociative Subtype of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (DSPS) |
| Topics | PTSD |
| Key findings | Exploratory factor analyses supported the DSPS's intended three-factor structure (derealization/depersonalization, loss of awareness, psychogenic amnesia). Latent profile analyses assigned 8.3% of the sample to a highly dissociative class distinguished by pronounced derealization and depersonalization, consistent with prior research. The authors report initial psychometric support for the lifetime DSPS scales and call for further validation in clinical and community samples. |
Abstract
The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual includes a dissociative subtype of posttraumatic stress disorder, but no existing measures specifically assess it. This article describes the initial evaluation of a 15-item self-report measure of the subtype called the Dissociative Subtype of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale (DSPS) in an online survey of 697 trauma-exposed military veterans representative of the U.S. veteran population. Exploratory factor analyses of the lifetime DSPS items supported the intended structure of the measure consisting of three factors reflecting derealization/depersonalization, loss of awareness, and psychogenic amnesia. Consistent with prior research, latent profile analyses assigned 8.3% of the sample to a highly dissociative class distinguished by pronounced symptoms of derealization and depersonalization. Overall, results provide initial psychometric support for the lifetime DSPS scales; additional research in clinical and community samples is needed to further validate the measure.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessing the quality of publicly available videos on MDMA‐assisted psychotherapy for PTSD Videos on YouTube about MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD | 2022 | Cross-sectional study | n = 100 |
| Perceptions of psychedelic-assisted therapy among Black Americans. Black and White American adults | 2023 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 294 |
| Coping motives mediate the relationship between PTSD and MDMA use in adolescents with substance use disorders German adolescent SUD patients aged 13–18 years at an outpatient clinic | 2022 | Cross-sectional study | n = 111 |
| Risk factors of sleep paralysis in a population of Polish students. Polish university students under 35 | 2022 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 2,553 |
| Expert opinions on implementation of MDMA-assisted therapy in Europe: critical appraisal towards training, clinical practice, and regulation. Researchers and clinicians involved in MDMA-AT clinical trials and contributors to the... | 2024 | Survey | n = 68 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 7
- Resolution of Dissociated Ego States Relieves Flashback-Related Symptoms in Combat-Related PTSD: A Brief Mindfulness Based Intervention. Military psychology : the official journal of the Division of Military Psychology, American Psychological Association 2020
- How-To Study Dissociative Symptoms in a Broad Range of Mental Disorders: A Methodological Primer Journal of Trauma & Dissociation April 7, 2025
- Longitudinal Outcomes of Oral Glutamatergic Augmentation in Trauma-Related Dissociation: A Six-Month Case Study. Cureus May 1, 2026
- Severe Dissociative Experiences beyond Detachment in a Large Clinical Sample of Inpatients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnostic and Treatment Implications Psychopathology July 22, 2024
- Neurobiological and Genetic Correlates of the Dissociative Subtype of PTSD Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science April 6, 2023
and 2 more in the library
Cites 3
- The Attentional Resource Allocation Scale (ARAS): psychometric properties of a composite measure for dissociation and absorption Depression and Anxiety February 23, 2010
- Cognitive processes in dissociation: an analysis of core theoretical assumptions. Psychological Bulletin September 2008
- Development, reliability, and validity of a dissociation scale. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease December 1, 1986