[Predictive power on therapy engagement in personality disorders: SWAP- 200 versus SCID-II]

The study compares the predictive power of the Shedler-Westen-Assessment Procedure-200 with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV on engagement in (psychoanalytic) psychotherapy within 297 patients with personality disorders in a 4-year-follow-up. Multinomial logistic regression showed small differences between the prediction rates in the cross-validated data. Both instruments showed clinically useful prediction rates for treatment rejecters: SWAP scales led to correct predictions with dysphoric traits as semi-stable predictors for rejecters, while SCID scales led to correct predictions with Negativistic, Depressive and Schizotypal PD as stable predictors. Results are discussed under the aspect of advantages and disadvantages of the SWAP-200 diagnostic procedure, which includes the assessment of affect-experience, defence-organisation, and object-relation-style.