COMPARISON OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE 3-ITEM AND 23-ITEM VERSIONS OF THE CLINICIAN ADMINISTERED DISSOCIATIVE STATES SCALE (CADSS)
Author(s)
John Kealy, PhD1, Tori Brooks, MSc2, Antoniya Andonova, PhD1, J. Douglas Bremner, MD3, Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD3.
1Mapi Research Trust, Lyon, France, 2Mapi Research Trust, Raleigh, NC, USA, 3Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
1Mapi Research Trust, Lyon, France, 2Mapi Research Trust, Raleigh, NC, USA, 3Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Measurement of dissociative symptoms is highly relevant in traumatized and psychiatric populations such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, or individuals undergoing ketamine treatment for depression. The Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) has been developed to capture key concepts of dissociation including depersonalization, derealization, dissociative amnesia, and fragmentation of the sense of self.
METHODS: Here, we compare a 3-item version of the CADSS in participants with (n=200) and without a diagnosis of PTSD (n=315) with previously reported results from the 23-item CADSS (Bremner et al., 2024, J Affect Disord 364:249-58).
RESULTS: Scores from the 3-item CADSS demonstrated an acceptable overall internal consistency (Crohnbach’s alpha=0.71) comparable to the 23-item CADSS’ internal consistencies for depersonalization (Cronbach's alpha=0.75), dissociative amnesia (Cronbach's alpha=0.70), and identity fragmentation (Cronbach's alpha=0.79). The 3-item CADSS showed good internal consistency when comparing scores at baseline and following a personalized trauma script (Crohnbach’s alpha=0.82). Importantly, the 3-item CADSS was sensitive to differences in dissociation within PTSD participants exposed to a personalized trauma story (0.48 (1.15 SD) vs. 1.01 (2.09 SD)) and non-PTSD participants (0.15 (0.53 SD vs. 0.39 (1.12 SD)), which is comparable to the increase scores from baseline to post-trauma exposure scores on the 23-item CADSS in Iraq combat veterans (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups following exposure to personalized trauma scripts using the 3-item CADSS (p=0.011).
CONCLUSIONS: The data presented show that the short form 3-item CADSS is a valid and reliable measure of dissociative symptoms in both trauma and non-trauma populations. It shows acceptable consistency as a measure of dissociation, and sensitivity to differences between trauma and non-trauma groups, along with sensitivity to changes in state following exposure to traumatic stimuli. This makes the 3-item CADSS suitable for use in studies that require rapid or low-burden measures of dissociation.
METHODS: Here, we compare a 3-item version of the CADSS in participants with (n=200) and without a diagnosis of PTSD (n=315) with previously reported results from the 23-item CADSS (Bremner et al., 2024, J Affect Disord 364:249-58).
RESULTS: Scores from the 3-item CADSS demonstrated an acceptable overall internal consistency (Crohnbach’s alpha=0.71) comparable to the 23-item CADSS’ internal consistencies for depersonalization (Cronbach's alpha=0.75), dissociative amnesia (Cronbach's alpha=0.70), and identity fragmentation (Cronbach's alpha=0.79). The 3-item CADSS showed good internal consistency when comparing scores at baseline and following a personalized trauma script (Crohnbach’s alpha=0.82). Importantly, the 3-item CADSS was sensitive to differences in dissociation within PTSD participants exposed to a personalized trauma story (0.48 (1.15 SD) vs. 1.01 (2.09 SD)) and non-PTSD participants (0.15 (0.53 SD vs. 0.39 (1.12 SD)), which is comparable to the increase scores from baseline to post-trauma exposure scores on the 23-item CADSS in Iraq combat veterans (p<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups following exposure to personalized trauma scripts using the 3-item CADSS (p=0.011).
CONCLUSIONS: The data presented show that the short form 3-item CADSS is a valid and reliable measure of dissociative symptoms in both trauma and non-trauma populations. It shows acceptable consistency as a measure of dissociation, and sensitivity to differences between trauma and non-trauma groups, along with sensitivity to changes in state following exposure to traumatic stimuli. This makes the 3-item CADSS suitable for use in studies that require rapid or low-burden measures of dissociation.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
CO11
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Clinical Outcomes Assessment
Disease
Mental Health (including addiction), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas