Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale [1]
The DERS is a brief, 36-item, self-report questionnaire designed to assess multiple aspects of emotion dysregulation. The measure yields a total score as well as scores on six scales derived through factor analysis:
1. Nonacceptance of emotional responses (NONACCEPTANCE)
2. Difficulties engaging in goal directed behavior (GOALS)
3. Impulse control difficulties (IMPULSE)
4. Lack of emotional awareness (AWARENESS)
5. Limited access to emotion regulation strategies
(STRATEGIES)
6. Lack of emotional clarity (CLARITY)
Although the measure is psychometrically young, it is promising and taps an important domain for the field of child trauma. Nearly all empirically validated treatments for child trauma seek to make changes in the domain of emotion regulation, but there are few measures that assess this domain.
The DERS has been examined in a sample of college students aged 18 and older and a clinical sample of women with Borderline Personality Disorder; however, the items are simply and clearly written and warrant examination in an adolescent population.