title: Assessment of personality-related levels of functioning: a pilot study of clinical assessment of the DSM-5 level of personality functioning based on a semi-structured interview.
abstract: The personality disorder categories in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV have been extensively criticized, and there is a growing consensus that personality pathology should be represented dimensionally rather than categorically. The aim of this pilot study was to test the Clinical Assessment of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale, a semi-structured clinical interview, designed to assess the Level of Personality Functioning Scale of the DSM-5 (Section III) by applying strategies similar to what characterizes assessments in clinical practice.
  
  
  
  The inter-rater reliability of the assessment of the four domains and the total impairment in the Level of Personality Functioning Scale were measured in a patient sample that varied in terms of severity and type of pathology. Ratings were done independently by the interviewer and two experts who watched a videotaped Clinical Assessment of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale interview.
  
  
  
  Inter-rater reliability coefficients varied between domains and were not sufficient for clinical practice, but may support the use of the interview to assess the dimensions of personality functioning for research purposes.
  
  
  
  While designed to measure the Level of Personality Functioning Scale with a high degree of similarity to clinical practice, the Clinical Assessment of the Level of Personality Functioning Scale had weak reliabilities and a rating based on a single interview should not be considered a stand-alone assessment of areas of functioning for a given patient.
authors: Center for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark. bt.crf@psy.au.dk.
authors: Birgitte
authors: B
authors: Thylstrup
authors: Regional Services for Mental Health, Capital Region, Stolpegårdsvej 20, 2820, Gentofte, Denmark.
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Simonsen
authors: BOMI, Renter for Neurorehabilitation, Maglegårdsvej 15, Roskilde, Denmark.
authors: Caroline
authors: C
authors: Nemery
authors: Regional Services for Mental Health, Nørregade 54, 4100, Ringsted, Denmark.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Simonsen
authors: Regional Services for Mental Health, Nørregade 54, 4100, Ringsted, Denmark.
authors: Jane Fjernestad
authors: JF
authors: Noll
authors: Regional Services for Mental Health, Capital Region, Stolpegårdsvej 20, 2820, Gentofte, Denmark.
authors: Mikkel Wanting
authors: MW
authors: Myatt
authors: Center for Alcohol and Drug Research, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 10, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Morten
authors: 0000-0002-6849-6554
authors: M
authors: Hesse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000592:standards*; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Assessment; Clinical practice; Interview; Levels of functioning; Personality