Operationalizing the psychodynamic diagnostic manual: a preliminary study of the psychodiagnostic chart

The Psychodiagnostic Chart (PDC) operationalizes the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM) Adult section. The authors collected 104 PDC cases from 15 psychologists who are experts with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). They found very good construct validity when the PDC was compared to MMPI-2, the Karolinska Psychodynamic Profile (KAPP), and the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis (OPD) Psychic Structure/Mental Functioning Scales. They found very good reliability for the 73 cases with a 2-week test-retest of the PDC. Additionally, 61 psychologists were recruited from listservs and asked to use the PDC on a recent client; 84% rated Level of Personality Organization as "helpful-very helpful" in understanding their patients. There was also similar support for the Personality Patterns or Disorders and Mental Functioning dimensions. In comparison, only 31% rated the ICD or DSM symptoms as "helpful-very helpful" in understanding their patients. The PDC may be used for diagnoses, treatment formulations, progress reports, and outcome assessment, as well as for empirical research on the PDM.