Psychometric properties of the German version of the borderline personality disorder severity index--version IV.

BACKGROUND: Although the borderline personality disorder severity index--version IV (BPDSI-IV) has already been used in several studies, psychometric properties are only known from two developing studies. SAMPLING AND METHODS: To examine item characteristics, reliability, and validity indicators, a large sample including subjects with borderline personality disorder (n = 163), a mixed psychiatric group (n = 58), and a healthy control group (n = 43) were interviewed with the German version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SCID-II) as well as the BPDSI-IV. RESULTS: The indices for interrater reliability as well as internal consistency of the BPDSI-IV were excellent to good. The total score and the subscales of the BPDSI-IV discriminated between diagnostic subgroups. As expected, its subscales were associated with the scores in the SCID-II and applied self-rating measures. CONCLUSIONS: In a subsequent version, subscales might have to be adapted to the proposed traits of the borderline type in DSM-V.

Emotion dysregulation as a core feature of borderline personality disorder: comparison of the discriminatory ability of two self-rating measures.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There is growing evidence that emotion dysregulation (ED) is a core feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD). The present study examines whether a self-rating measure, the ED Scale, lets us distinguish between individuals with BPD and those diagnosed with other mental disorders in a way similar to that of a borderline-related screening measure, the German version of the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorders (MSI-BPD). METHOD: Based on the signal detection theory, receiver operating characteristics as well as reliability and validity indicators are determined in a heterogeneous outpatient sample (n = 168). RESULTS: The values of internal consistency and the validity indicators turned out to be in the expected range. The area under the curve (AUC) for the ED Scale was 0.86, and therefore emerged on a par with the AUC = 0.90 of the MSI-BPD. As required, analyses for both measures revealed equal and high values for sensitivity, as well as corresponding low negative predictive values. There was, however, a lower degree of specificity on the ED Scale as compared to the MSI-BPD. CONCLUSION: The results support the assumption that ED is a core feature of BPD, but should also be taken into account in the assessment and treatment of other mental disorders.

[Screening measure for borderline personality disorder]. / Screening-Instrument für die Borderline-Persönlichkeitsstörung. Diagnostische Effizienz der deutschen Version des McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a life-threatening mental disorder. To date, there is no German screening tool available. To examine the psychometric properties of a German version of the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD). A heterogeneous outpatient sample (N=168) was used to examine discriminatory ability, diagnostic efficiency as well as indicators for internal consistency and convergent validity. The area under the curve was AUC=0.90 (CI 95%: 0.85