Convergent validity of SCID-II and TCI: categorical vs. dimensional diagnostics of personality disorders using the example of short-term prisoners

Abstract

In order to objectify the diagnostics of personality disorders, questionnaires and structured interviews are used. Nevertheless, due to different methodological approaches even those instruments arrive at different results very often. Therefore, this study aimed to check the convergent validity of two frequently used instruments - the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM IV Axis II Disorders (SCID-II) and the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) - the first one representing the categorical and the latter one the dimensional approach for diagnosing personality disorders. The diagnostic concordances were statistically described with Cohen's Kappa, Yule's Y, and correlations. The results indicate that there are striking differences in diagnoses and that the SCID-II rather tends to diagnose a personality disorder earlier than the TCI.