Applying Personality Assessment Inventory Borderline Scales and Alternative Model for Personality Disorder Borderline Facets in Two Clinical Samples

The Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (AMPD) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) assesses personality pathology as a combination of impairment (Criterion A) and problematic personality traits (Criterion B). The current study explores the ability of the traditional Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Borderline scales combined with new PAI-derived AMPD borderline personality disorder (BPD) facets in predicting DSM BPD criteria. The DSM BPD criteria were identified by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Disorders (SCID-II) and by the OMNI Borderline Personality Scale. This study employed two clinical samples (n = 143 and n = 129). Correlations among the AMPD BPD facets, PAI BOR scales and SCID-II items or OMNI Borderline scale were calculated. A series of hierarchical linear regressions with stepwise entry revealed that the combination of PAI BOR subscales and AMPD BPD facets provided the strongest prediction of SCID-II Borderline PD criteria and OMNI Borderline scale, explaining 37% and 67% of the variance, respectively. Lastly, we assessed the BPD facet total and PAI BOR full scale's ability to predict psychological health and illness severity. Clinical and research implications are discussed.