A comparison of clinical and self-report diagnoses of DSM-III personality disorders in 552 patients

Compr Psychiatry. 1989 Mar-Apr;30(2):170-8. doi: 10.1016/0010-440x(89)90070-9.

Abstract

This report examines the relationship between clinicians' diagnoses of personality disorder and self-report diagnoses of personality disorder obtained from the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire (PDQ). The results from 552 patients showed general lack of agreement between clinical and self-report diagnoses of DSM-III personality diagnoses. The best agreement obtained was for Borderline Personality Disorder: k = 0.46, and r = .51 for scaled ratings. Possible sources of disagreement including failings of the self-report questionnaire, difficulties in relying upon patients' self-reports, lack of reliability of clinical diagnoses of personality, and possible inherent lack of reliability of several of the DSM-III personality disorders are discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Borderline Personality Disorder / diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Personality Inventory*
  • Psychometrics