Reliability and validity of the Italian version of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised in an outpatient sample.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R) in an outpatient sample.


METHODS
The TCI-R was administered to 404 consecutively admitted subjects. The TCI-R scale 1-month test-retest reliability and TCI-R/TCI convergent validity were assessed in 2 independent subsamples.


RESULTS
The TCI-R scales showed adequate Cronbach alpha values and acceptable 1-month test-retest reliability coefficients. Although many TCI-R facets showed factorial complexity, factor analysis results were consistent with the 7-factor structure of the TCI-R scales. The predictive validity of TCI-R profiles for personality disorder diagnoses was confirmed, with different combinations of temperament dimensions being associated with specific personality disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
The TCI-R was a reliable and valid instrument for assessing temperament and character features, at least among Italian outpatients. The TCI-R psychometric properties support its clinical usefulness in the assessing of personality psychopathology.
Fossati
Andrea
A
School of Psychology, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20127 Milan, Italy. fossati.andrea@hsr.it
Cloninger
C Robert
CR
Villa
Daniele
D
Borroni
Serena
S
Grazioli
Federica
F
Giarolli
Laura
L
Battaglia
Marco
M
Maffei
Cesare
C
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002605:Character; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007802:Language; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013694:Temperament