The personal need for structure as a personality trait in clinical differential diagnosis

The aim of the present study was to validate the German version of the "Per sonal need for structure" Scale (PNS) by Neuberg and Newsom (1993) in a cli nical (depression, anxiety, schizophrenia) and a control sample of normal a dults. Furthermore, the factor structure and the psychometric properties of the PNS and relations to trait anxiety were examined. Two factors were ext racted: External and Internal uncertainty. The factor external uncertainty distinguished accurately between the clinical and the control group, wherea s the factor internal uncertainty discriminated among the unique psychiatri c disturbances.