Date of Award

4-17-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a psychometrically sound self-report personality assessment derived from the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual’s (PDM-2) diagnostic framework of personality organization. This assessment, the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Inventory of Personality Organization (PDIPO), was developed from the longstanding history of psychodynamic personality theory. The PDIPO provides a comprehensive evaluation of how clients perceive their own level of personality organization, defined as a continuum from healthy to disturbed or impaired personality functioning. The PDIPO was normed on a representative sample of adults (ages 20–70) in the United States through an online participant recruitment service, Prolific. The 78 items were written to register six constructs from psychodynamic theory, (a) identity integration, (b) self-esteem, (c) dissociation, (d) object relations, (e) defensive functioning, and (f) reality testing. An exploratory factor analysis study was conducted to evaluate and refine the proposed PDIPO instrument. The factor analysis identified a five-factor structure distinct from the anticipated theoretical subscales. The five factor scales and six theoretically based scales were analyzed for internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha, and all were found to display strong internal consistency. Instruments currently used in clinical settings were used to evaluate internal and convergent validity. The results of the factor analysis also provide valuable feedback for refining psychodynamic theory through a statistically derived organization of the components of personality organization. The PDIPO also acts as a pilot study to initiate further research and development of self-report diagnostic measures derived from the PDM-2 diagnostic framework.

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