An Australian validation study of the temperament and character inventory.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the validity of the temperament and character inventory (TCI) measure in an Australian sample.

METHOD: A sample of depressed subjects completed the TCI and a measure assessing personality disorder constructs (PDCs), while family members and psychiatrists also returned PDC ratings.

RESULTS: Factor analyses generally supported the TCI constructs, when the temperament and character scales were analysed separately. Self-reported PDC scores were validated against corroborative witness ratings and used to assess the TCIs concurrent validity. Validation analyses supported all TCI temperament scales, but the Self-transcendence Character scale was unassociated with PDC scores. The remaining two character scales (i.e. cooperativeness and self-directedness) were non-specifically associated with all PDC scores.

CONCLUSION: Study results support the validity of the TCI scales, but question the best model for conceptualizing the TCI. It is suggested that two character scales quantify disordered functioning, while temperament scales quantify style, constructs that may be inter-related or independent in individual subjects.