The Personality Disorder Features Screener (PDFS-56)

Abstract

The Personality Disorder Features Screener (PDFS-56) is a concise, 56-item self-report screening questionnaire designed to assess the presence of nonclinical features associated with the ten specific personality disorders outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). Developed as a simplified and streamlined instrument, the PDFS-56 is particularly useful for research involving non-clinical populations where a quick assessment of personality pathology dimensions is required. The scale utilizes a 4-point response scale to capture the degree of agreement with each descriptive statement.

Keywords

PDFS-56, Personality Disorder Features Screener, personality disorder, nonclinical assessment, DSM-IV-TR, psychological screening, self-report, personality pathology

Authors

Bjorn Meyer, Maria K. Enstrom, Mona Harstveit, David P. Bowles, Christopher G. Beevers

Purpose

The primary purpose of the PDFS-56 is to provide a rapid and efficient measure of the traits and characteristics associated with the ten distinct personality disorders recognized under the DSM-IV-TR classification system. Unlike diagnostic interviews or lengthy clinical tools, the PDFS-56 is specifically tailored for use in non-clinical research settings, allowing researchers to screen large samples for subclinical manifestations of these features.

The scale acts as a simplified iteration of earlier, more complex personality disorder screening questionnaires previously utilized in academic studies. Its utility lies in identifying dimensional aspects of personality dysfunction rather than providing a formal clinical diagnosis, making it suitable for studies focusing on general well-being, adjustment, and personality characteristics within the general population or specialized non-patient groups.

Construct

The PDFS-56 is constructed to measure the nonclinical expression of ten specific personality disorder constructs, mapping directly onto the categories defined in the DSM-IV-TR. These constructs typically fall into the three clusters (A, B, and C) of personality pathology, covering traits such as suspicion (Paranoid PD), detachment (Schizoid PD), eccentricity (Schizotypal PD), manipulativeness (Antisocial PD), instability (Borderline PD), emotionality (Histrionic PD), grandiosity (Narcissistic PD), avoidance (Avoidant PD), dependency (Dependent PD), and rigid perfectionism (Obsessive-Compulsive PD).

By focusing on “features” rather than clinical thresholds, the instrument captures variability in these traits across a continuum, which is consistent with modern dimensional approaches to personality assessment. Each of the 56 items is designed to reflect a core behavioral or cognitive pattern characteristic of one of these ten disorders, thereby allowing for the dimensional assessment of each psychological construct.

Validity

Specific detailed psychometric validation data, such as convergent and discriminant validity coefficients or comparisons against established clinical interviews, are typically presented in the primary publication (Meyer et al., 2007). Given that the PDFS-56 is explicitly based on the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV-TR, its content validity is rooted in established diagnostic nosology. Prior research by the authors utilizing similar screening measures suggests that these simplified instruments possess adequate empirical validity for differentiating personality features in research samples.

Reliability

While the source excerpt does not provide internal consistency estimates (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) or test-retest reliability data, it is expected that the full 2007 publication established the reliability of the 56-item scale and its ten subscales. Reliability is crucial for any screening questionnaire to ensure that the scores obtained are consistent and stable over time and across different items measuring the same psychological construct.

Factor Analysis

The source documentation does not detail the specific results of any factor analysis performed on the PDFS-56. However, since the instrument is structured to measure ten distinct personality disorder features, it is implied that empirical studies would support a multi-factor structure corresponding to the ten diagnostic categories. Researchers typically employ exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis to verify that the 56 items load onto the intended ten underlying dimensions as conceptualized by the DSM-IV-TR framework.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Screening questionnaire

Format: 56 items utilizing a 4-point response scale.

Language Available: English (as presented in the source publication).

Population Group: Non-clinical samples

Age Group: Adults (implied, as the study focused on fashion models)

Population Details: Originally utilized in research with non-clinical samples, including a study on fashion models.

Test Methodology: Participants indicate their level of agreement with each statement on a 4-point response scale:

• 1: Disagreed strongly

• 2: Disagreed slightly

• 3: Agreed slightly

• 4: Agreed strongly

Keywords

Psychological assessment, personality pathology, self-report, psychological traits, DSM-IV, Meyer, screening tool, psychometrics, nonclinical features

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source.

Correspondence Address: Correspondence for the 2007 publication was likely directed to Bjorn Meyer (City University, London, UK).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was introduced and published in 2007 within The Journal of Positive Psychology. Permissions for use, scoring keys, and any applicable fees would be subject to the policies of the authors (Bjorn Meyer et al.) and the journal publisher (Taylor & Francis).

Test Year: 2007

Reference’s

• Meyer, B., Enstrom, M. K., Harstveit, M., Bowles, D. P., & Beevers, C. G. (2007). Happiness and despair on the catwalk: Need satisfaction, well-being, and personality adjustment among fashion models. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2(1), 2–17. Affiliations: 1City University, London, UK, 2Sheffield Hallam University, UK, and 3University of Texas at Austin, USA.

• American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). Washington, DC: Author.

Items of the The Personality Disorder Features Screener (PDFS-56)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I have a hard time trusting a partner because I know how common it is that they might cheat or secretly deceive me.

2. It happens quite often that people want to take advantage of me‚ but I’m usually good at detecting this and doing something about it.

3. I’m probably a bit more suspicious than the average person‚ but that means that I get tricked less easily.

4. Most people are much less trustworthy (and more selfish) than they would like you to believe.

5. I don’t easily share secrets with others because they tend to use it against you at a later time.

6. I am known as a rather cold‚ unemotional person‚ but that’s just who I am.

7. I actually don’t have real friends and that’s okay with me.

8. I prefer to spend time on my own rather than with other people‚ and most of my hobbies require little contact with others.

9. Other people are simply not very important to me (including family members).

10. I don’t feel comfortable in social situations because I don’t trust others.

11. I’m aware that others often think of me as strange‚ odd‚ peculiar‚ or bizarre because of the way I dress or act.

12. My beliefs and ideas may seem strange‚ odd‚ or eccentric to others (but I like them).

13. My sense of humor is very different from the majority and people often ‘‘don’t get it’’ or ‘‘don’t get me.’’

14. I can often sense or see special things or detect meanings that other people just don’t notice.

15. I’ve broken the law many times.

16. If someone seriously annoys me or gets in my way‚ I can get quite nasty with them (and I’m not a weak kind of person who regrets it later!).

17. I’m good at tricking others or making them believe something that isn’t true‚ and I use this skill for my benefit.

18. If I’m honest‚ I have to say that I often lie or cheat to get ahead in life.

19. I’m not the kind of person who is plagued by guilt or shame just because I might have upset someone.

20. As a child I used to get into a lot of trouble for ‘‘bad’’ behaviour (fighting‚ lying‚ stealing‚ etc.).

21. My emotions are like a roller-coaster: very intense and quickly going from very high to very low.

22. Often people that I thought would be great turn out to be horrible.

23. When I’m really stressed‚ I sometimes start to feel strange‚ weird‚ or paranoid (as if the whole world is against me).

24. I sometimes feel so desperate or awful that I have thoughts of wanting to harm or even kill myself.

25. My relationships are usually extremely intense‚ stormy‚ emotional‚ and unstable.

26. I often get so angry or even hateful that I hardly recognize myself later.

27. I get panicky or desperate when I think someone close will leave me or abandon me.

28. I often feel empty inside: not sure who I am or where I’m going with my life.

29. If something upsets me‚ my emotions can get out of control rather easily.

30. I often do things for a kick or a thrill even though I know they may be self-damaging (e.g.‚ ha‎ving sex with people I hardly know‚ doing drugs‚ getting extremely drunk).

31. I’m a ‘‘social butterfly’’ who can easily show whatever emotions the situation requires.

32. I love being the ‘‘life of the party‚’’ I’m a born entertainer!

33. I can be very sexy or seductive‚ and I know how to use it!

34. Most people who meet me almost instantly love me because I’m such a ch‎arming person!

35. Some people may consider me to be overly dramatic‚ but that’s just my style!

36. I may not be the most precise‚ but when I speak it’s always animated‚ full of passion‚ ch‎arm‚ and flair.

37. I’m a multi-talented person who is actually far more gifted than average people.

38. Other people may find me a bit grandiose or ‘‘full of myself‚’’ but if I’m perfectly honest I actually do think that I’m in many ways more special or better than average people.

39. Even though they may not always admit it‚ other people often admire me because of my abilities or talents.

40. Other people at times find me arrogant‚ but that’s really their problem!

41. I’m sure that if I wanted to‚ I could achieve extreme heights of success‚ power‚ or brilliance in life.

42. I often feel somewhat inferior or inadequate in social situations.

43. I’m socially quite shy‚ restrained‚ or inhibited.

44. I don’t like getting involved with other people because I often feel they may ridicule or not accept me.

45. I find it hard to relax when I’m around others because I always feel they may reject or disapprove of me.

46. I’m very sensitive to other people’s criticism.

47. I can be a bit submissive‚ needy‚ or clingy in close relationships‚ but I try to not let that become a problem.

48. I’m not good at making decisions by myself; I need someone trusted to make the decisions for me.

49. It’s hard for me to disagree with others because I fear that if I disagree‚ they may dislike me.

50. If I were all alone‚ without a supportive partner‚ I probably would feel quite helpless and unable to make it.

51. Being in a close relationship is extremely important to me; it gives my life purpose and direction.

52. I often insist that things be done exactly my way‚ and I get annoyed when other people try to ‘‘cut corners’’ or perform a job poorly.

53. I’m known to be a bit of a perfectionist or ‘‘control freak.’’

54. My standards for performance are extremely high‚ I’m never satisfied with ‘‘just getting the job done’’; it needs to be done very‚ very well.

55. I like to attend to details‚ rules‚ lists‚ order‚ and schedules‚ in order to ensure that everything proceeds correctly‚ without errors.

56. I can be quite stubborn‚ but it’s usually in the service of doing things the right way and not compromising my high standards.