Early detection of dissociative symptoms and disorders is important to prevent more serious chronic problems and to enable adequate treatment as early as possible. A first step towards adequate understanding and treatment is a thorough assessment of dissociation. Various self-report scales and screening questionnaires have been developed, including the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS), Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS-Q), Multiscale Dissociation Inventory (MDI), Multidimensional Inventory of Dissociation (MID), and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire-20 (SDQ-20). Acute dissociative states can be assessed using the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS), Dissociative Stress Scale Acute (DSS-Acute), and Dissociative Symptom Scale. Following a positive screening, a clinician-administered structured interview, such as the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM–IV Dissociative Disorders (SCID-D) or the Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule (DDIS) should be conducted by or in consultation with a clinician familiar with dissociative disorders and in a multidisciplinary team or network. During the screening and diagnostic process, both the possibility of underreporting and overreporting of symptoms should be considered. The purpose of questions should always be transparent and suggestive questions need to be carefully avoided. Guidelines recommend making clients aware of different views and opinions concerning the cause and treatment of dissociative disorders.