Decreased Sexual Desire Screener – DSDS
A brief diagnostic instrument to assist in making the diagnosis of generalized acquired Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in women.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Decreased Sexual Desire Screener – DSDS was developed by Anita H. Clayton, Evan R. Goldfischer, Irwin Goldstein, Leonard R. Derogatis, Diane J. Lewis-D’Agostino, Robert Pyke (2005). It is designed to measure Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD). The scale is intended for use with Pre-, peri-, and postmenopausal women.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 11 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Diagnostic Criteria, Contributing Factors.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnostic Criteria | 1,2,3,4 | 4 |
| Contributing Factors | 5,6,7,8,9,10,11 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a dichotomous Yes/No format.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 4. Interpretation guidelines:
- Does not qualify for HSDD diagnosis (answered No to one or more of Q1-Q4): 0 – 3
- Meets criteria for generalized acquired HSDD (if all contributing factors are No): 4 – 4
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Sensitivity: 0.836 – 0.956, Specificity: 0.878.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.