The Shutdown Dissociation Scale (Shut-D) is a semi-structured interview, it was first published in 2011 to assess dissociative responses caused by reminders of traumatic stress.[1] The Shut-D Scale assesses biological symptoms associated with freeze, fight/flight, fright, and flag/faint responses, and is based on the defense cascade model.[1], [4] A study of people with Schizophrenic Symptom Disorder found that the number of incidents of childhood trauma (but not adult trauma) was related to their Shut-D score. [5]

This questionnaire includes the same questions and scoring method as the Shut-D semi-structured interview, but has not been assessed to determine if it produces the same results without the medical/psychiatric knowledge, explanations and other input that a clinician or researcher would provide. Some medical knowledge may be needed to determine whether symptoms are the result of neurological medical conditions rather than dissociative responses. It should not be used as a diagnostic tool but may be helpful to researchers or people wishing it become more aware of any dissociative responses they experience. The Dissociative Experiences Scale is suitable for people seeking a diagnostic screening tool for dissociative disorders like Dissociative Identity Disorder.

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Shut-D Questions

Instructions:
There are 13 questions. These questions have been designed for adults and cover experiences within the last 6 months or in the months since the trauma occured (for people who have experienced only a single trauma that occurred less than 6 month before).

Symptoms known to be caused by an "acute or chronic medical condition or peripheral neuropathy", alcohol or drug use, medication side-effects, or similar effects during adolescence or the beginning of the menopause should be excluded.[1] Download a printable version of this screening tool.

Disclaimer
This self-assessment tool is not a substitute for clinical diagnosis or advice and does not attempt to give a probable or provisional diagnosis. By using the tool you agree to accept that the website's owner and contributors are not responsible or liable for the outcome of the tool, the accuracy of the calculations, or any decisions or events which result from using it. You can use the feedback form to report any mistake. This website does not provide medical advice.
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These questions cover experiences within the last 6 months or in the months since the trauma occured (for people who have experienced only a single trauma that occurred less than 6 month before). The Apparently Normal Part (host personality) should answer in people with Dissociative Identity Disorder.
1. Have you fainted?/Have you been passing out?

not at all  a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

2. Have you felt dizzy and has your vision gone black?/Felt dizzy and couldn't see anymore, as though you were blind?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

3. Have you felt as though you couldn't hear for a while, as though you were deaf? When people were talking to you, did they sound far away?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

4. Have you had an experience of not being able to properly see things around you (e.g., blurred vision)

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

5. Have you felt as though your body or a part of your body has gone numb?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

6. Have you felt as though you couldn't move for a while, as though you were paralyzed?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

7. Have you felt as though your body, or a part of it was insensitive to pain (analgesia)?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

8. Have you been in a state in which your body suddenly felt heavy and tired?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

9. Have you experienced that your body becoming stiff for a while?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

10. Have you felt nauseous? Have you felt as though you were about to throw up? Have you felt yourself break out in a cold sweat?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

11. Have you had an “out-of-body” sensation? Have you felt as though you were outside of your body?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

12. Have you had moments in which you have found yourself unable to speak? / Have you been able to speak only with great effort? / Have you had an experience in which you could only whisper for a period of time?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

13. Have you felt suddenly weak and warm?

0%  once a week or less  2-4 times a week  5 or more times a week 

Scoring

Press Calculate Result to see your score. Each question is scored as follows: not at all = 0, once a week or less =1, 2–4 times a week = 2, 5 or more times a week =3. The total score of all questions is then added up, giving a minimum score of 0 and a maximum of 39.

 

Based on a tally quiz generated by
D.K. Jordan's quiz maker

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Total
 

Press the Clear button to remove the results from your screen after using the tool.

Result Explained

The result does not does not attempt to give a diagnosis, but may be helpful in identifying people with a high vulnerability to dissociative responses to trauma. [1] Clinicians may find it useful. [1] A very high score, for example, does not automatically suggest that a person has Dissociative Identity Disorder and a low score does not invalidate an existing dissociative disorder or dissociative PTSD diagnosis. The maximum score is 39, and average scores are given in the table below. Some of these studies included only a small number of people, for example only 15 people with the Dissociative Identity Disorder were assessed using the Shut-D Scale.
The Shutdown Dissociation Scale measures some symptoms which are found in Dissociative Disorders of Movement and Sensation and Conversion Disorder (Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder). People with these conditions were not been assessed using the scale in the original research. [1]

Average Shut-D Scores in research [1], [5]
Healthy controls	2.02 (3.1)*, 0.94 (1.25)*
Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder	3.5 (4.5)
Psychotic Spectrum Disorder	4.3 (4.7)
Major Depression (MDD)	4.8 (3.4)*, 5.77 (4.7)*
BPD and/or MDD	8.03 (5.8)
Borderline Personality disorder (BPD)	14.88 (10.7)*
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder	17 (8.6)*
Dissociative Identity Disorder	19.2 (9.4)*
*study included females only

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References