Psychometric properties of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) questionnaire in a Spanish psychiatric population

Objective: The psychometric properties of the Spanish Version of Cloninger' s Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) were examined in a psychiatric population. Method: Internal consistency, factor structure and concurrent validity were studied in a sample of 416 psychiatric patients. Results: A moderate to high internal consistency for all personality dimens ions was found, except for Persistence. A confirmatory factor analysis of t he TCI performed at the subscale level revealed an uncertain factor structu re. However, when analysed separately, both the 11 temperament subscales (p lus Persistence) and the 13 character subscales shaped four and three facto rs, respectively, in agreement with the biosocial model of personality. Fin ally, concurrent validity analyses were conducted using EPQ, SPSR and SSS q uestionnaires showing results consistent with theory. Conclusion: The Spanish version of the TCI is a reliable and valid instrume nt, although the Persistence dimension might require further revision.