[Standardization of the German 16-item short version of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-16)].

UNLABELLED

Standardization of the German 16-item short version of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-16).

OBJECTIVES

The 16-item short version of the Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO-16) is a self-report measure assessing the severity of personality dysfunction. This study provides representative norms and determines the smallest real difference value for the IPO-16.

METHODS

Standardization of the IPO-16 was based on a representative survey among the German general population (N = 2502). Retest reliability and the smallest real difference were assessed in a separate longitudinal online survey, whereby participants completed the IPO-16 three times at time intervals of 2 months (N = 495).

RESULTS

The average IPO-16-mean score in the general population was 1.87. The influence of age and sex was small, albeit statistically significant.We therefore developed sex- and age-specific norms. The average retest reliability across 2 months was .85, and the smallest real difference was 0.66.

CONCLUSIONS

The IPO-16 is a well-validated, and now standardized, screening instrument for the assessment of severity of personality dysfunction. It can be recommended for use in research and practice.