Psychometric Characteristics of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire: A Replication Study<footref rid="foot01">¹</footref>

Abstract

Background: The present study aimed to replicate the results of previous studies concerning the development of two versions of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire. The SDQ-20 evaluates the severity of somatoform dissociative phenomena, and the SDQ-5 is a dissociative disorders screening instrument. Methods: Thirty-one patients with dissociative disorders and 45 consecutive psychiatric outpatients with other DSM-IV diagnoses completed the SDQ-20 and SDQ-5 as well as the Dissociation Questionnaire which measures psychological dissociation. Results: Mokken scale analysis showed that the items of the SDQ-20 are strongly scalable on a latent unidimensional scale. Internal consistency was high. The SDQ-20 convergent validity was supported by high intercorrelations with the DIS-Q. Dissociative patients obtained significantly higher scores than comparison patients. Patients with dissociative identity disorder scored significantly higher compared to patients with dissociative disorder nos. Sensitivity (94%) and specificity (98%) of the SDQ-5 were very satisfactory, as were, at an estimated prevalence rate of dissociative disorders of 10% among psychiatric patients, positive predictive value (84%) and negative predictive value (99%). Conclusions: All results replicated the first findings, and therefore corroborate the conclusion that the SDQ-20 and SDQ-5 are instruments of sound psychometric quality, and that somatoform dissociative phenomena are core symptoms of complex dissociative disorders.

Ethical Dilemmas in Online Research and Treatment of Sexually Abused Adolescents

“…The Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-5 [28] was used to determine the degree of dissociation. Suicidal ideation was determined with the Dutch adaptation of the Suicidality Questionnaire [29].…”

Emotional Numbness Modifies the Effect of End-of-Life Discussions on End-of-Life Care

“…The threatening nature of a terminal illness or of an EOL discussion may trigger a dissociative response in some patients that manifests itself as emotional numbness. 9, 10 The fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–IV) 11 (p. 519) defines dissociation as “a disruption in the usually integrated function of consciousness, memory, identity, or perception of the environment.” Dissociation and emotional numbness impose psychological barriers to normal human interactions. Gershuny and Thayer assert that “when emotional pain is acute and deemed unbearable by the sufferer, dissociation may be called upon as a means of escape.” 12 (p. 647) In dissociative responses to psychological threats, symptoms of “freezing, analgesia, and emotional numbing” are believed to be elicited automatically.…”

Degree of somatoform and psychological dissociation in dissociative disorder is correlated with reported trauma

“…Several authors report convincing clinical, theoretical, and research findings which support the case for a separate somatofom dissociative category (Kihlstrom, 1994;Nemiah, 1991;Nijenhuis et al, 1996Nijenhuis et al, , 1998a. Nijenhuis et al (1996Nijenhuis et al ( , 1998a found that somatoform dissociative phenomena, such as intermittent analgesia, anesthesia, motoric inhibitions, and pain symptoms, highly characterized dissociative disorder patients.…”