Factorial structure of the German version of the Dimensional Assessment ofPersonality Pathology-Basic Questionnaire in clinical and nonclinical samples

The Dimensional Assessment of Personality Pathology-Basic Questionnaire (DA PP-BQ) assesses 18 traits to provide a systematic representation of the ove rall domain of personality disorders. We tested the cross-cultural stabilit y of the prediction that four higher-order factors (Emotional Dysregulation , Dissocial Behavior, Inhibitedness, and Compulsivity) underlie the 18 basi c traits. A total of 81 patients who were primarily treated for an Axis II personality disorder and N = 166 healthy control patients completed the Ger man version of the DAPP-BQ. Results clearly confirmed cross-cultural stabil ity of the postulated four-factor structure in both samples, accounting for 74.7% (clinical sample), and 65.7% (nonclinical sample) of the total varia nce. All four higher-order factors showed specific correlational relationsh ips with dimensional assessments of DSM-IV personality disorders.