Journal of personality assessment最新文献

A recent Delphi study found expert-consensus that clinical staging (CS) could provide a valid framework in the assessment of personality disorders (PDs) in older adults (Conjaerts et al., 2025). The categorical models used currently to assess PDs are poorly suited for treatment selection, in older adults even more so as age-specific factors were not considered in the development. The aim of this study was to investigate the interrater reliability, sensitivity and specificity of the recently proposed CS model, using the level of personality functioning and the lifetime course of personality pathology as profilers. Clinical vignettes were composed to reflect various stages of PD. 35 international expert clinicians in the field of PDs in older adults were presented three vignettes and asked to assign the PD to a clinical stage. Interrater reliability was good (κ = .86; 95% CI: 0.79-0.94). Overall sensitivity (0.80) and specificity (0.93) rates of the model were good. Sensitivity for stages 2, 3 and 4 was very good (0.92, 0.85, and 0.85, respectively), whereas sensitivity for stage 1 was insufficient (0.60). The overall satisfactory interrater reliability, sensitivity and specificity rates indicate that CS might be a valid and reliable new approach of assessing PDs in older adults.

While prior research has explored the relationship between Object Relations Theory (ORT) and the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD), comprehensive comparisons across diverse clinical populations and methodologies remain limited. This study investigated the predictive accuracy of AMPD and ORT in identifying personality psychopathology using neural network models within a mixed sample of 639 participants (229 non-clinical undergraduates, 410 psychiatric inpatients). Data were collected using Persian translations of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Self-Report (LPFS-SR), the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) (AMPD measures), and the Structured Interview of Personality Organization-Revised (STIPO-R) (ORT measure). Results indicated significant differences in all subscales of both models between clinical and non-clinical groups. Notably, the borderline personality disorder group showed elevated scores on specific STIPO-R subscales and all AMPD constructs except empathy. Neural network models achieved over 65% accuracy in predicting group membership, with AMPD slightly surpassing ORT (66%+ vs. 65%+). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis demonstrated high sensitivity for both models, with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values ranging from 0.79 to 0.94. These findings underscore the significant utility of both AMPD and ORT for the assessment, early identification, and diagnosis of personality disorders.

Firearm violence, and especially firearm suicide, is a growing public health concern in the United States that requires a multidisciplinary approach to address. We argue that assessment psychologists are particularly well-suited to enhance understanding of firearm owners' individual differences, perceptions, and beliefs. Creating a robust literature at the nexus of personality, assessment, and firearms is vital to the development and implementation of effective firearm injury prevention interventions tailored to the firearm-owning population. In addition to reviewing the current literature and providing a call to action for assessment psychologists, we present a small exploratory study that examines relationships between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) Substantive scales, firearm ownership, and beliefs regarding the relationship between suicide and firearms. Our sample included 99 undergraduate students, 22 of which (22.2%) owned firearms. Preliminary findings suggest that firearm owners may be less prone to internalizing distress relative to non-firearm owners, and several internalizing scales were positively associated with the belief that firearms in the home and unsecure firearm storage increase suicide risk. We offer some potential implications of these preliminary findings and make recommendations for ways in which assessment psychologists can contribute to firearm injury prevention research.

The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is the most cited measure of state and trait anxiety, and is routinely employed in a variety of research and clinical contexts. Here, we investigate the temporal stability as well as the convergent and discriminant validity of the German version of the STAI trait scale (STAI-T) across multiple time points in two independent samples (105 and 120 Caucasians). We observed temporal stabilities of .42-.67 for intervals between 20 and 41 months and from .81-.87 for intervals of five to 12 months, with decreasing stability as the time interval increased. Temporal stability estimates of the STAI-T were similar to those of related constructs. Additionally, examining the relationships within a nomological network support the recent conclusion that the STAI-T also shares substantial variance with questionnaires measuring negative emotionality such as depression, and hence does not measure anxiety specifically - despite its name. These results provide further psychometric information on what the STAI-T actually measures and to what extent STAI-T scores are expected to be stable across longer time intervals. This is of relevance for researchers aiming, for example, to use the STAI-T scale for predicting symptom trajectories and evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Complex posttraumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) includes core post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms plus disturbances in self-organization (DSO), yet debate continues over whether it is sufficiently distinct from existing diagnostic categories to be considered a separate diagnosis. This study examines the interpersonal characteristics of PTSD, cPTSD, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and level of personality functioning (LPFS) using the interpersonal circumplex. A trauma-exposed sample of 554 adults completed measures of PTSD symptoms (PCL-5, ITQ-PTSD), DSO symptoms (ITQ-DSO), personality pathology symptoms (BSL-23 and LPFS) and interpersonal functioning on the problems and values surfaces. Both the PCL-5 and ITQ-PTSD scales demonstrated similar interpersonal profiles, as did DSO and LPFS (but not BPD). PTSD and BPD symptoms were characterized by cold-dominant interpersonal problems, cold values, and high interpersonal distress. DSO and LPFS symptoms, on the other hand, were characterized by cold-submissive problems and cold/cold-submissive values. Moreover, DSO was associated with significantly higher distress than PTSD but lower distress than BPD. Results provide evidence for DSO as a distinct interpersonal construct from PTSD and BPD and indicate that there is substantial overlap in the interpersonal characteristics associated with DSO and LPFS. These findings support the diagnostic validity of a cPTSD category and suggest that dimensional approaches to personality assessment can enhance differential diagnosis and inform trauma-focused interventions.

As the field adopts dimensional models of personality disorders (DSM-5 Alternative Model of Personality Disorders [AMPD]; ICD-11 Personality Disorder), it is imperative that clinical assessment tools are available to assess them. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) is one such measure, as it is routinely used in clinical practice and assesses a variety of psychological symptoms. The current study aimed to build upon previous literature using a community mental health sample and a multi-method approach. Specifically, a sample of 289 individuals enrolled in various mental health services in New Zealand was used. The participants completed the MMPI-3 and self-report questionnaires of ICD-11 and AMPD impairment and traits; clinician ratings based on interviews and informant reports of these were available as well. The results supported most of the pre-registered hypotheses, with the Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) scales being among the best predictors of AMPD domains and the Compulsivity scale being the best predictor of Anankastia. Although a wide range of MMPI-3 scales predicted personality impairment scores, the internalizing scales emerged with the largest associations. Implications of these findings for clinical practice, such as utility and accessibility, are discussed.

The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) is a widely used trait measure of empathy which suffers from low convergent validity. The Toronto Empathy Questionnaire (TEQ) shows improved convergent validity but lacks assessment of test-retest reliability and clarity as to the construct(s) it measures. We compared the TEQ and IRI convergent validities (N = 2693) with trait sexual prejudice, a construct opposed to empathy, using the Modern Homonegativity Scale (MHS). The TEQ outperformed the IRI in terms of convergent validity with MHS. The IRI empathic concern subscale was most predictive of both TEQ and MHS scores. However, its perspective-taking subscale predicted the TEQ but not MHS scores. Results support the view that the IRI fantasy and personal distress subscales are not empathic constructs. The TEQ increased predictive power for every model it was added to, suggesting another construct might be at play beyond empathic concern and perspective-taking. Participant gender predicted TEQ and MHS scores but did not moderate their association. However, longitudinal invariance analysis (N = 568) revealed mixed findings concerning all the scales, with TEQ possibly tapping into different constructs across time. Implications for research on empathy and its association with sexual prejudice are discussed.

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are heterogeneous, and the psychological impact of trauma varies. This underlines the need for better understanding the impact of trauma on the development of psychopathology, especially in populations where traumatic stressors are prevalent. Although there is myriad research supporting the use of MMPI measures (e.g., MMPI-2-RF) in the assessment of trauma-related psychopathology in military populations, there is limited research using the MMPI-3. In this study we aimed to address this need in a military sample (N = 190). Specifically, we evaluated how the MMPI-3 measures psychopathology among those who have been exposed to military trauma (i.e., active combat exposure and military sexual trauma) and have symptoms of PTSD. Findings reveal significant increases in psychopathology on the MMPI-3 when exposed to military traumas, with associated increased risk of elevating scores. Specifically, results highlight other areas of psychopathology that may be relevant to military experience including broad internalizing distress, cognitive/somatic difficulties, and interpersonal distancing. The MMPI-3 also demonstrated significant overlap with the PCL-5 in its ability to measure PTSD symptoms. These results support the use of the MMPI-3 as a useful tool for understanding the complex symptomology of trauma in post-9/11 military personnel.

The present investigation endorses the premise that each person can be understood in terms of particular ways of responding to particular situations. In two studies (total N = 353), participants indicated how they would respond to a wide variety of mundane and consequential life situations. These person-in-situation units were used to understand variations in miserable functioning, defined in terms of degree of match to a miserable person prototype. Participants receiving higher behavioral tendencies of misery (BT-M) scores scored lower in flourishing and higher in psychopathological symptoms. In addition, misery, as quantified, was evident to peers (Study 1) and linked to deficiencies in goal pursuit and achievement in daily life (Study 2). The results provide insights into miserable functioning while also providing support for a new approach to personality assessment that can link person-specific bottom-up units to any number of constructs through the use of prototype scoring.

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV (MCMI-IV) is a psychological assessment tool commonly used in Veteran Affairs (VA) settings. However, no research has examined the MCMI-IV symptom validity scales in the veteran population, where high rates of response bias can occur. This study examined convergent validity of the MCMI-IV scales to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) validity measures, identified base rates of invalid MCMI-IV validity scores in the veteran population, and explored alternative cutoff scores. All MCMI-IVs administered in the VA (04/2019 - 08/2024, N = 6,466), using data from the Corporate Data Warehouse, were examined. MCMI-IV protocols were correlated with same day administrations of the MMPI-2-RF (n = 1,401) using Spearman's correlations. Disclosure and Debasement positively correlated with overreporting validity scales and negatively correlated with underreporting scales on the MMPI-2-RF, while Desirability showed the opposite pattern (all p < .001). Additionally, the Inconsistency scale positively correlated with MMPI-2-RF non-content validity scales. Less than 1% of MCMI-IV of protocols met the test manual's criteria for invalidity, a significant departure from invalid rates reported on other measures administered to veterans. Diagnostic accuracy analyses suggested new cutoff scores, specifically that overreporting be identified by X Disclosure base rate score (BRS) ≥ 87 and Z Debasement BRS ≥ 84, and underreporting identified by X Disclosure BRS ≤ 49 and Y Desirability BRS ≥ 74. Results suggest that while the MCMI-IV validity indices measure intended constructs, more optimal cutoffs are presented for the veteran population.