Prototypes and dimensions: Relations between the Shedler-Westen Assessment Procedure (SWAP-200) and the Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5) Maladaptive Personality Traits

Abstract

In psychological assessment, employing a multi-method, multi-informant, and multi-conceptual approach is recommended (Bornstein, 2017). To enrich our understanding in evidence-guided composition of assessment instruments that encompass all these aspects, this study investigates the convergent validity of the SWAP-200 Personality Syndromes (PS) and Trait Dimensions (TD) scales with the MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r scales, as well as the impact of divergent respondent types on process-focused validity in a clinical sample (n= 52). The study reveals several significant correlations between the SWAP-200 PS scales and MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r scales that align with conceptual expectations, indicating convergent validity. While significant correlations were observed between TD and PSY-5-r scales, some of these deviated from expectations, most probably due to sample composition and respondent type. In all, results support previous research on the overlap between SWAP-200 scales and trait dimension measures, underscore the usage of both maladaptive dimensional traits (MMPI-2-RF PSY-5-r) and prototypes of personality functioning (SWAP-200 PS), and emphasize their utility as part of a multi-faceted approach in psychological assessment.