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Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ)

Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) Test

In about 4 minutes, this test helps clarify whether trauma-related stress is showing up as dissociation through physical symptoms. It pinpoints specific body-based signs and helps track progress over time.

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Questions: 204 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

23,128 views

2,421 completion

1,962 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

26/100

Somatoform Dissociation (SD)

Assesses the severity of somatic symptoms linked to dissociative processes (somatoform dissociation).

Low

Elevated (above threshold)

20 – 29: Low | 30 – 100: Elevated (above threshold)

A score of 26 falls in the Low range, suggesting fewer somatoform dissociation-related bodily symptoms on this screening measure.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Clients with unexplained symptoms

41%OF USERS

People who have numbness, strange sensations, pain, or loss of control without clear medical findings take it to see if stress or trauma may be showing up through the body.

Trauma-focused therapy clients

34%OF USERS

People already working through trauma use it to check for dissociative body reactions and track whether symptoms change during treatment.

Mental health clinicians screening

25%OF USERS

Psychologists and psychiatrists use the brief questions for quick initial screening and to decide what bodily and memory-related symptoms to explore further.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Somatoform Dissociation Scale (SDS)

Average

62.7

Normal range

48.8 — 76.6

min.

max.

100

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It screens for bodily symptoms linked to dissociation, such as altered sensation, motor control changes, and other stress- or trauma-related somatic disruptions. It focuses on mind–body disconnection rather than general stress level.

Who is this questionnaire for?

It is intended for adults in clinical or counseling settings when somatic symptoms are present without a clear medical explanation. It can also be used to monitor symptom change during treatment.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

The standard form includes 20 items and usually takes about 4 minutes. Some settings may use a brief 5-item form for rapid screening.

How should items be answered?

Each item should be rated based on typical experiences over the specified timeframe using the provided response options. If unsure, select the option that best matches the most common experience.

How should results be interpreted?

Scores indicate the level of somatoform dissociative symptoms and help identify areas for further assessment. Results do not confirm a diagnosis and should be interpreted alongside clinical evaluation and medical findings when relevant.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) Test - Symptoms and Signs

dissociation

In clinical settings, somatic symptoms may be reported in ways that are not fully accounted for by medical findings and may be associated with dissociative phenomena. The Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) is a brief self-report measure developed to screen for somatoform manifestations of dissociation.

The instrument by Nijenhuis, E. consists of 20 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. It is intended to support identification of patterns of bodily experiences that may reflect disruptions in integration of awareness, memory, and sensorimotor functioning, and it may be used as an adjunct to a broader clinical assessment.

Results from the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ) can also be used to track change over time when monitoring symptoms during treatment, alongside clinical interview findings and other relevant measures.

Author: Nijenhuis, E.

Literature: Spitzer, C., Barnow, S., Freyberger, H. J., & Grabe, H. J. Dissociation predicts symptom-related treatment outcome in somatoform disorders. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2007.; Foa, E. B., Keane, T. M., Friedman, M. J., & Cohen, J. A. Effective treatments for PTSD: practice guidelines from the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. Guilford Press. 2009.; Nijenhuis, E. R., Spinhoven, P., van Dyck, R., van der Hart, O., & Vanderlinden, J. The development and psychometric characteristics of the Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ-20). The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 1996.; Nijenhuis, E. R., Spinhoven, P., van Dyck, R., van der Hart, O., & Vanderlinden, J. The development of the somatoform dissociation questionnaire (SDQ-5) as a screening instrument for dissociative disorders. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica. 1997.

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