Screening borderline personality disorder The psychometric properties of the Persian version of the McLean screening instrument for borderline personality disorder

Screening for personality disorders through reliable instruments is of high importance for clinical and preventive purposes. Examining the psychometric properties of measures in societies with diverse cultures can improve their external validity. This research is specifically aimed to studying psychometric properties of the McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI‑BPD) in a sample of Iranian men serving military service.

The Persian version of the MSI‑BPD was prepared through forwarding translation, reconciliation, and back‑translation. A sample of 254 soldiers was selected through the convenience sampling method in Tehran and completed a set of questionnaires, including the MSI‑BPD, The Deliberate Self‑harm Inventory (DSHI), Borderline Personality Scale (STB), Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and Self‑Compassion Scale (SCS) Short‑Form. The construct validity of the MSI‑BPD was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis and divergent and convergent validity. Internal Consistency and test‑retest reliability (2 weeks’interval) were used to evaluate the reliability. Data analysis was conducted using LISREL (version 8.8) and SSPS (version 22) software.

MSI‑BPD and its subscales were found to be valid and reliable measures, with good internal consistency and good test‑retest reliability among soldiers. In terms of convergent validity, MSI‑BPD and subscales showed a significant positive correlation with self‑report measures of DSHI and STB. MSI‑BPD and subscales showed negative correlation with SCS Short‑Form and CFI, thus demonstrated a good divergent validity. The results of this study also provide support for both one‑factor and two‑factor models of the MSI‑BPD.

The MSI‑BPD showed good validity and reliability, making it a useful measure to Screening borderline personality disorder in the Iranian population. Screening offers a means of identifying persons for more detailed evaluation for early intervention and for research. The MSI‑BPD is an efficient instrument suitable for screening purposes among soldiers.