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BMC Psychiatry

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Open Access 01-12-2008 | Research article

Standardised assessment of personality – a study of validity and reliability in substance abusers

Authors: Morten Hesse, Joachim Rasmussen, Mads Kjær Pedersen

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2008

Abstract

Background

Brief screening instruments for co-morbid personality disorders could potentially have great value in substance abuse treatment settings.

Methods

We assessed the psychometric properties of the 8-item Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS) in a sample of 58 methadone maintenance patients.

Results

Internal consistency was modest, but similar to the original value (alpha = 0.62), and test-retest correlation at four months follow-up was moderately encouraging for a short instrument such as this (n = 31, test retest intraclass correlation = 0.58), and change at the mean level was minimal, but marginally significant (from an average of 3.3 to 3.8, p = 0.06). Analyses of nurse ratings of patients' behaviour at the clinic showed that SAPAS was significantly correlated with nurse ratings of externalizing behaviour (r = 0.42, p = 0.001), and Global Assessment of Functioning (r = -0.36, p = 0.006), but unrelated to intoxication (r = 0.02, NS), or withdrawal (r = 0.20, NS).

Conclusion

There is evidence that the SAPAS is a modestly valid and relatively reliable brief screening measure of personality disorders in patients with ongoing substance abuse undergoing methadone maintenance. It can be used in situations where limited resources are available, and researchers or others wish to get an impression of the degree of personality pathology in a clinical population, as well as for screening purposes.

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The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed here:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-244X/8/7/prepub

Title: Standardised assessment of personality – a study of validity and reliability in substance abusers
Authors: Morten Hesse
Joachim Rasmussen
Mads Kjær Pedersen
Publication date: 01-12-2008
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2008
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-8-7

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Standardised assessment of personality – a study of validity and reliability in substance abusers

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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