Comparison of Self‐Report and Structured Clinical Interview Scores for the Assessment of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale

ABSTRACT

This study addresses the need for an examination of the criterion validity of a highly popular self‐report instrument which is used to gain a quick first impression of personality dysfunction: the Level of Personality Functioning Scale‐Brief Form 2.0 (LPFS‐BF 2.0). To this end, the relationship between LPFS‐BF 2.0 scores and SCID‐5‐AMPD‐I scores rated by trained clinicians was investigated in a clinical Norwegian sample ( N  = 155). Moreover, we investigated the relationship between the Norwegian version of the LPFS‐BF 2.0 and other self‐report instruments (the WSAS, GAD‐7, and PHQ‐9). Correlations, a linear regression model, as well as sensitivity and specificity for cut‐off values proposed in the literature, were estimated. The results of the linear regression analysis with SCID‐5‐AMPD‐I scores as the dependent variable, showed a strong and significant relationship between LPFS‐BF 2.0 scores and SCID‐5‐AMPD‐I scores, also when controlling for other variables. The LPFS‐BF 2.0 showed moderate to high correlations with all other instruments. The sensitivity values for cut‐off scores suggested in the literature for the LPFS‐BF 2.0 were too low. In sum, we found support for the concurrent and criterion validity of the LPFS‐BF 2.0. Additionally, we tentatively suggest that the cut‐off values currently in use may need to be lowered.