Child Dissociative Checklist

What is the Child Dissociative Checklist?

The Child Dissociative Checklist, often abbreviated as CDC, is a specialized psychological assessment tool designed to identify signs of dissociative disorders in children. Developed by experts in child psychology and psychiatry, this checklist is a crucial resource for clinicians, therapists, and mental health professionals working with children who may exhibit symptoms of dissociation.

Dissociative disorders in children often manifest as a disruption in the normal integration of consciousness, identity, memory, and perception. These disturbances can significantly impact a child's emotional well-being and daily functioning. The Child Dissociative Checklist serves as a structured method to evaluate these complex symptoms, enabling early detection and intervention.

The checklist comprises a series of statements or questions focusing on behaviors, emotions, and experiences commonly associated with dissociative disorders. These can include memory lapses, episodes of trance-like states, sudden changes in behavior or skills, and the presence of alternate identities or imaginary companions. Mental health professionals use the checklist to rate the frequency and intensity of these symptoms, based on observations and reports from both the child and caregivers.

Scoring and interpretation of the CDC are nuanced. The checklist is designed not just to capture the presence of symptoms but to gauge their severity. Higher scores typically indicate a greater likelihood or severity of dissociative symptoms, guiding clinicians toward further diagnostic evaluation or therapeutic interventions.

It's important to note that the Child Dissociative Checklist is not a standalone diagnostic tool. Instead, it is used in conjunction with other assessments and clinical evaluations. Its primary role is to guide mental health professionals in identifying children who may need more comprehensive psychological evaluations and to initiate discussions about potential therapeutic pathways. By facilitating early detection, the CDC plays a vital role in ensuring children receive appropriate and timely care for dissociative disorders.

Using the Child Dissociative Checklist: A guide for professionals

The Child Dissociative Checklist is a clinical tool for assessing dissociative symptoms in children. It's essential for mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, and therapists, as well as for caregivers to monitor a child's psychological well-being. Follow this step-by-step guide to access and use the Child Dissociative Checklist effectively:

Step 1: Access the Child Dissociative Checklist

• Download: Obtain the Child Dissociative Checklist by clicking on the provided link on our website or other professional resources.
• Viewing the Checklist: The checklist will typically be in a PDF format, convenient for digital viewing.
• Printing option: You can also print the checklist for ease of use during consultations or for maintaining physical records as part of the child’s psychological assessment file.

Step 2: Gathering information:

• Obtain information from both the child and reliable sources who know the child well, such as parents, caregivers, or teachers.
• Ensure that the environment is comfortable and conducive to sharing sensitive information.

Step 3: Administering the checklist:

• The checklist consists of a series of statements describing behaviors and experiences commonly associated with dissociative disorders in children.
• Read each item carefully to the child or the caregiver, ensuring they understand the statement.

Step 4: Scoring

• For each item, score based on the current or past 12 months' relevance to the child.
• Use the following scale for scoring:

• 0: Not True (The behavior or experience does not apply to the child)
• 1: Somewhat or Sometimes True (The behavior or experience applies to some extent or occasionally)
• 2: Very True (The behavior or experience strongly applies to the child)

Step 5: Interpreting scores:

• Total the scores for all items. Higher scores indicate a greater likelihood or severity of dissociative symptoms.
• Use the scores as a preliminary assessment to guide further diagnostic evaluation.

Step 6: Evaluation

• If the score suggests the presence of dissociative symptoms, consider a comprehensive psychological evaluation.
• Discuss the results with the child's caregivers and, if appropriate, with the child, to determine the best course of action.

When would you use this template?

The Child Dissociative Checklist Template is a specialized resource designed for use by mental health professionals, including child psychologists, psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors, in various clinical and therapeutic contexts. Its primary application is in the early identification and assessment of dissociative symptoms in children, a crucial step in addressing complex psychological conditions. Appropriate situations for the CDC template:

• Initial psychological evaluations: When a child first presents with symptoms such as memory lapses, trance-like states, or sudden behavioral changes, the Checklist Template serves as an initial screening tool. It guides clinicians in systematically evaluating the presence and severity of dissociative symptoms.
• Monitoring treatment progress: For children already diagnosed with dissociative disorders, the Checklist Template can be used periodically to monitor changes in symptoms and treatment effectiveness. This ongoing assessment helps in fine-tuning therapeutic interventions.
• Differentiating disorders: In cases where a child’s symptoms overlap with other psychological disorders, such as PTSD or anxiety disorders, the Checklist Template aids in distinguishing dissociative symptoms from other conditions. This ensures a more accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment plan.
• Educational and care settings: Educators and childcare professionals can use the Checklist Template as a reference to understand the possible signs of dissociative symptoms in children. While they cannot diagnose, this knowledge helps in making informed referrals to mental health services.‍
• Research purposes: Researchers studying dissociative disorders in children can utilize the Checklist Template to gather standardized data, contributing to the broader understanding of these conditions.

What do the results mean?

Interpreting the results of the Free Child Dissociative Checklist Template involves understanding the spectrum of dissociative symptoms and their implications for a child's mental health. The checklist, scored on a scale, offers insights into the presence and severity of dissociative symptoms. Here's a breakdown of common results and what they typically indicate:

Low score range:

• Minimal to no indicators: A low score generally suggests that the child exhibits few or no signs of dissociative symptoms. This could mean the child does not have a dissociative disorder, or the symptoms are not prominently manifesting at the time of assessment.
• Caution in interpretation: Even with a low score, if there are clinical concerns or reported incidents that suggest dissociative tendencies, further evaluation may be necessary.

Moderate score range:

• Possible dissociative symptoms: A moderate score indicates that there are some dissociative symptoms present. This range calls for a more in-depth analysis to understand the context and frequency of these symptoms.
• Need for further assessment: Children in this score range might benefit from a comprehensive psychological evaluation to explore the underlying causes and to determine if these symptoms are part of a broader mental health issue.

High score range:

• Significant dissociative symptoms: High scores are indicative of more serious dissociative symptoms. This is a strong signal that the child may be experiencing a dissociative disorder.
• Immediate attention required: Professional intervention is crucial at this stage. A detailed clinical assessment, possibly including interviews, observations, and collaboration with caregivers and educators, is vital for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

General considerations:

• Contextual factors: It’s important to consider the results in the context of the child's overall environment, history, and other psychological or developmental factors.
• Professional judgment: The checklist is a tool to guide professionals but should not replace clinical judgment and individualized assessment.

In conclusion, the results from the Free Child Dissociative Checklist Template offer valuable preliminary insights into a child's mental health concerning dissociative symptoms. They guide professionals in decision-making about further evaluations, interventions, and necessary support mechanisms for the child.

Research & evidence

The Child Dissociative Checklist (CDC), developed by Frank W. Putnam, MD, is a widely recognized tool in the field of child psychology and psychiatry for screening dissociative symptoms in children. Its development and continued use are backed by substantial research and evidence, underscoring its effectiveness and reliability.

The CDC was developed in the early 1990s, a period marked by growing recognition of dissociative disorders in children. Dr. Putnam, a renowned psychiatrist, crafted the checklist based on clinical experience and existing research on dissociation. The aim was to provide a standardized tool that could be used easily by clinicians to identify children at risk of or suffering from dissociative disorders (Putnam, 1990).

Initial validation studies by Putnam, Helmers, and Trickett in 1993 established the CDC's reliability and validity, demonstrating its effectiveness in screening dissociative symptoms in children (Putnam, Helmers, & Trickett, 1993). Subsequent research, such as that by Pinegar in 1995, further supported the checklist's utility in clinical settings, particularly for child and adolescent psychiatric nursing (Pinegar, 1995).

A study by Wherry et al., 2009, illustrated the checklist's capability to measure pathological dissociation, reinforcing its role in differentiating between dissociative and non-dissociative disorders (Wherry, Neil, & Taylor, 2009). These studies collectively validate the CDC as a crucial tool for early detection and intervention in dissociative disorders among children.

The CDC is now a standard tool used globally by mental health professionals. Its simplicity and structured format make it an efficient method for preliminary screening. Additionally, its ability to track symptom severity over time aids in monitoring treatment progress and outcomes.

The research and evidence supporting the Child Dissociative Checklist are robust, making it a valuable and trusted resource in the assessment of dissociative symptoms in children. Its development is a testament to the evolving understanding of dissociative disorders in the field of child mental health, and its widespread use underscores its importance and efficacy.

References

Pinegar C. (1995). Screening for dissociative disorders in children and adolescents. Journal of child and adolescent psychiatric nursing : official publication of the Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nurses, Inc, 8(1), 5–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.1995.tb00517.x

Putnam, F. W. (1990). Child Dissociative Checklist (CDC) [Database record]. APA PsycTests.https://doi.org/10.1037/t02069-000

Putnam, F. W., Helmers, K., & Trickett, P. K. (1993). Development, reliability, and validity of a child dissociation scale. Child abuse & neglect, 17(6), 731–741. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0145-2134(08)80004-x

Wherry, J. N., Neil, D. A., & Taylor, T. N. (2009). Pathological dissociation as measured by the child dissociative checklist. Journal of child sexual abuse, 18(1), 93–102. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538710802584643