The Adult Brief Dissociative Experiences Scale–Modified (DES-B) is a validated psychological tool designed to identify and measure dissociative symptoms in adults. With Zentake’s HIPAA-secure digital platform, clinicians can now administer the DES-B quickly, securely, and without paperwork. Transform how you collect and analyze mental health data — with automation, encryption, and seamless integration into your healthcare workflow.
The DES-B is a short, evidence-based questionnaire derived from the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), originally developed by E. B. Carlson and F. W. Putnam. It is designed to measure dissociative phenomena such as depersonalization, derealization, amnesia, and identity confusion — symptoms often seen in individuals with trauma-related or stress-related disorders.
This brief version contains fewer items than the original DES, making it practical for use in both clinical and research settings. Respondents rate the frequency of various experiences on a numerical scale, allowing clinicians to quantify dissociative tendencies efficiently.
Clinicians use the DES-B to screen for dissociative symptoms, identify patients who may need further psychological evaluation, and monitor changes in symptom patterns over time.
Dissociation is a complex psychological process that can significantly affect memory, perception, and identity. The DES-B helps clinicians quickly identify these symptoms, ensuring timely intervention and appropriate treatment planning.
In mental health settings, dissociative symptoms may be linked to trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or other stress-induced conditions. The DES-B provides a structured method for evaluating these symptoms and can complement broader assessments such as trauma histories, anxiety scales, and depression inventories.
For more details on the instrument’s development and validation, clinicians can refer to the National Center for PTSD — an authoritative source providing technical information about the original DES and its brief versions.
Traditional paper-based DES-B forms often require manual distribution, completion, and scoring. These processes can be time-consuming, prone to human error, and difficult to store securely. In contrast, Zentake’s digital DES-B eliminates those inefficiencies by automating every step — from form delivery to results management.
With Zentake, clinicians can send the DES-B directly to patients before appointments, have them complete it online, and instantly receive results within their workflow system. Data is encrypted end-to-end, ensuring full compliance with HIPAA and healthcare data privacy standards.
Imagine a behavioral health clinic using traditional paper forms: staff must print, distribute, and later transcribe responses into electronic records — adding hours of repetitive work weekly. After switching to Zentake’s digital DES-B, that same clinic can automatically collect, store, and analyze responses in real time. The entire workflow — from patient submission to clinician review — becomes seamless, accurate, and fully secure.
Zentake revolutionizes how healthcare organizations manage psychological assessments. The digital DES-B integrates directly into Zentake’s workflow automation system, enabling teams to streamline processes while maintaining compliance and clinical accuracy.
Example in practice:
A trauma therapy center uses Zentake to distribute the DES-B to patients automatically 24 hours before each session. The results are securely stored, analyzed, and summarized in the clinician’s dashboard, allowing them to track progress over time and tailor interventions accordingly.
Zentake transforms paper-based assessments into intelligent digital workflows that enhance both clinical precision and patient satisfaction. Learn more about Zentake’s Features or explore Behavioral Health Templates for similar forms.
To implement the digital DES-B successfully, healthcare organizations should:
Studies show that clinics using digital assessment tools save up to 40% of administrative time compared to paper workflows. By transitioning to Zentake’s DES-B, healthcare providers can focus more on patient care and less on manual documentation.
Zentake also supports audit trails and digital consent tracking, helping practices demonstrate compliance during inspections or quality assurance reviews.
Q1. Who can use the DES-B form?
Licensed psychologists, psychiatrists, and behavioral health clinicians can use the DES-B to assess dissociative experiences in adults.
Q2. How long does it take to complete?
The DES-B is brief — most respondents finish within 2–3 minutes, making it ideal for clinical intake sessions.
Q3. Is the DES-B scientifically validated?
Yes. It is a validated short form derived from the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), widely recognized in trauma and mental health research.
Q4. Can I export DES-B results?
Yes. Zentake allows exporting results to PDF, CSV, or EHR-compatible formats, ensuring flexibility in record management.
Q5. Does Zentake offer other psychological assessments?
Absolutely. Zentake supports digital versions of validated forms such as the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), GAD-7 Anxiety Scale, and more.
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