SELF- AND PARENT REPORT OF ADOLESCENT PERSONALITY PATHOLOGY: INFORMANT AGREEMENT AND RELATIONS TO DYSFUNCTION

Assessment of personality pathology relies heavily on self-report, although it has been argued that proxy report may contribute valuable information. The present study examined reports of adolescents and parents on dimensions of adolescent personality pathology, as assessed by the DAPP-BQ-A, and their relations to clinician-reported dysfunction in a sample of 110 youngsters referred to mental health services. Adolescent and parent reports showed moderate agreement (mean ICC = .45). However, regression analyses controlling for Axis I psychopathology indicated that both adolescent- and parent-reported dimensions uniquely contributed to variance in dysfunction. Analysis of the multi-trait-multi-informant correlation matrix supported the convergent and discriminant validity of the DAPP-BQ-A. Applying a multi-informant approach in the assessment of adolescent personality pathology using the DAPP-BQ-A may improve decision making on diagnostic and intervention issues.