The Borderline Syndrome Index: a validation study using the personality assessment schedule.
BACKGROUND
This study examines the validity and screening properties of the Borderline Syndrome Index--BSI (developed in the USA) for categories of the Personality Assessment Schedule--PAS (developed in the UK).


METHODS
Patients were recruited by case control sampling. Chance corrected agreement between instruments and screening properties of the BSI were calculated.


RESULTS
The BSI proved a moderately sensitive but non-specific screen. Questionnaire scores were highly correlated with symptom measures.


CONCLUSIONS
The results do not support the validity of the BSI or its use as a screening instrument. BSI scores may be distorted by current symptoms.
Marlowe
M J
MJ
Academic Department of Psychiatric, Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London.
O'Neill-Byrne
K
K
Lowe-Ponsford
F
F
Watson
J P
JP
D000328:Adult; D001883:Borderline Personality Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results