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The Section III on Emerging Measures and Models included in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, introduces a hybrid alternative approach, dimensional-categorical, to diagnose personality disorders. The Criterion A establishes the assessment of the impairment in personality functioning in terms of two dimensions: self and interpersonal. The present study was aimed at developing a short scale to measure both dimensions. The sample was composed of 342 adults from Buenos Aires city and its outskirts, with ages ranging from 19 to 82 years old (M = 39.90, SD = 13.75). Data were gathered using the Personality Functioning Scale, developed in this study, as well as the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief Form, the Mental Health Continuum Short Form, and the Symptom Check List-27. A principal components analysis conducted on 28 items found 2 factors, interpersonal and self. Internal consistency, estimated by ordinal Alphas, achieved values between .92 and .86 whilst Cronbach's Alphas were .88 and .87. Significant and positive correlations between the Personality Functioning Scale scores on the one hand, and the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 Brief Form scores and the Symptom Check List-27 score on the other, were found. Negative correlations between PFS scores and the Mental Health Continuum Short Form were calculated. As a result, a short scale with adequate psychometric features, suitable to assess Criterion A in adult Argentinian population has been developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The main objective of this research was studying the psychometric properties of the Listado de síntomas breve (short checklist of symptoms; LSB-50) in a sample of 994 Argentinean adults (49.9% females; 50.1% males). Mean age was 40.66 years (standard deviation= 17.01; Min=18; Max=89). This screening test has seven main clinical scales: hypersensitivity, obsessive-compulsive, anxiety, hostility, somatization, depression, and sleep disturbance. Pearson correlations indicated that all scales had positive and mostly moderate associations. The second order confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit for a hierarchical model where all scales loaded in one major factor. Internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha was adequate. Females scored significantly higher than males in all scales except for the hostility scale, in which no differences were found. Although statistically significant associations with age were found in some scales, correlations were very weak. Obsessive-compulsive, sleep disturbance and depression scales had the highest scores, while anxiety presented the lowest score. Based on the psychometric evidence found, the scale seems to be suitable for the local population. Consequently, the availability of such measure may contribute to conduct epidemiological studies of psychopathology in Argentina. Moreover, the scale could be used for the assessment of psychotherapy progress and outcomes of clients, as well as for psychotherapy research. Notwithstanding, more evidence of validity and reliability should be sought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]