Decreased Sexual Desire Screener – DSDS
A brief diagnostic instrument to assist in identifying 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 (2009). 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 11. Interpretation guidelines:
- Diagnostic evaluation: Yes to items 1-4 and No to items 5-11 indicates generalized acquired HSDD.: 0 – 11
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.