Dysfunctional Cognitions in Personality Pathology-PBQ

성격장애 검사지에 대한 구조 및 타당도 분석에 대한 소논문입니다.
Psychol Med. 2012 April ; 42(4): 795–805. doi:10.1017/S0033291711001711.

Abstract
Background—This study examines the structure of the Personality Belief Questionnaire (PBQ),
a self-report instrument designed to assess dysfunctional beliefs associated with personality
pathology, as proposed by the cognitive theory of personality dysfunction.
Methods—The PBQ was examined using exploratory factor analysis with responses from 438
depressed outpatients, and confirmatory factor analysis with responses from 683 treatment-seeking
psychiatric outpatients. All participants were assessed for personality disorder using a standard
clinical interview. The validity of the resulting factor structure was assessed in the combined
sample (N=1121) by examining PBQ scores for patients with and without personality disorder
diagnoses.
Results—Exploratory and confirmatory analyses converged to indicate that the PBQ is best
described by 7 empirically identified factors: 6 assess dysfunctional beliefs associated with forms
of personality pathology recognized in DSM-IV. Validity analyses revealed that those diagnosed
with a personality disorder evidenced a higher average score on all factors, relative to those
without these disorders. Subsets of patients diagnosed with specific DSM-IV personality disorders
scored higher, on average, on the factor associated with their respective diagnosis, relative to all
other factors.
Conclusions—The pattern of results has implications for the conceptualization of personality
pathology. To our knowledge, no formal diagnostic or assessment system has yet systematically
incorporated the role of dysfunctional beliefs into its description of personality pathology. The
identification of dysfunctional beliefs may not only aid in case conceptualization, but may provide
unique targets for psychological treatment. Recommendations for future personality pathology
assessment systems are provided.