Development and preliminary application of a new scale for assessing dysfunctional working models of self and others (DWM-S) in severely disturbed patients

Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1998 Sep;98(3):219-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1998.tb10070.x.

Abstract

Although several suggestions have been made concerning the content and characteristics of cognitive/emotive schemata held by people with different disorders, there is still a scarcity of suitable instruments for verifying or measuring such constructs. This is particularly true of schemata postulated to be present in patients with personality disorders or a schizophrenic disorder. This article deals with the development of a new scale for assessing dysfunctional internal working models of self and others (DWM-S) in psychiatric patients. Preliminary results obtained in a sample of patients (n=110) and healthy subjects (n=40) suggest that the scale has a highly satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.97), and satisfactory test-retest reliability (rho coefficient=0.90 in healthy subjects and 0.86 in patients). Moreover, the DWM-S is able to discriminate between patients and healthy subjects and between patients suffering from various disorders. Further studies are in progress to assess the cross-national generalizability of the findings obtained so far.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Schizophrenia / diagnosis*
  • Schizophrenic Psychology*
  • Self Concept*
  • Social Perception*