Development and validation of the Urdu-language Borderline personality disorder scale for adults: a psychometric analysis

Objective: To develop and validate an Indigenous Borderline Personality Disorder Scale (BDPDS) for adults in Urdu, tailored to the cultural and linguistic context of Pakistan. Methods: The cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from February 15 to June 20, 2019, on 234 adults (123 males, 111 females) aged 19 and above, recruited through purposive sampling. Study was approved by Departmental Research Review Committee, University of Gujrat, Pakistan. The scale was developed using established guidelines, beginning with an 81-item pool derived from literature, diagnostic criteria, and expert input. Pilot testing with 100 participants refined the pool to 79 items. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) identified seven factors, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) validated the model, leading to a final 32-item scale. Psychometric properties were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha for reliability and Zanarini Rating Scale for Borderline Personality Disorder (ZAN-BPD) for convergent validity. Results: EFA revealed a seven-factor structure explaining significant variance, with factor loadings ranging from 0.40 to 0.82. CFA confirmed the model fit with a CFI of 0.919 and RMSEA of 0.059. The BDPDS demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.949) and high reliability across subscales (α = 0.747–0.888). Convergent validity was established with a significant correlation (r = 0.579, p < 0.01) with ZAN-BPD. Conclusion: The 32-item BDPDS is a psychometrically robust and culturally sensitive tool for assessing borderline personality disorder in Urdu-speaking adults. Its reliability and validity make it suitable for clinical and research applications, offering a consistent measure for understanding and addressing borderline personality traits.