Psychology RootsStandardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS)
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About Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS)
Scale Name
Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS)
Author Details
Paul Moran, Moray Leese, Tennyson Lee, Paul Walters, Graham Thornicroft, and Anthony Mann
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS), developed by Moran et al. (2003), is an 8-item self-report screening tool designed to assess the likelihood of personality disorders in adults. Published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the SAPAS is a brief structured interview that identifies probable personality disorder based on dichotomous responses to questions about interpersonal and behavioral patterns (e.g., difficulty making/keeping friends, impulsivity, excessive worry). It is derived from the Standardised Assessment of Personality (SAP), a semi-structured informant interview, but adapted for self-report to enable quick screening in clinical settings.
Participants respond “yes” (1) or “no” (0) to each item, with Item 3 reverse-scored. Total scores range from 0–8, with a cutoff of ≥3 indicating probable personality disorder (sensitivity ≈ 0.90, specificity ≈ 0.80). The SAPAS was validated with 60 psychiatric outpatients (mean age ≈ 35 years, ~50% female, UK-based) and 195 general practice patients, correctly identifying 90% of those with DSM-IV personality disorders. It correlates with the full SAP (r ≈ 0.60–0.70) and measures of psychological distress (r ≈ 0.40–0.50). The scale is used in clinical psychology, psychiatry, and primary care for rapid personality disorder screening, informing diagnostic assessments and treatment planning.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain the scale from Moran et al. (2003) or authorized sources (e.g., British Journal of Psychiatry), ensuring ethical permissions.
- Explain to participants (adults in clinical or primary care settings) that the questionnaire screens for personality traits, emphasizing confidentiality and voluntary participation.
- Administer the 8-item scale via self-report or structured interview in a clinical setting, using paper or digital formats, with instructions to answer “yes” or “no” based on typical behavior.
- Estimated completion time is 2–3 minutes.
- Ensure a private, supportive environment; provide mental health resources (e.g., counseling services) and adapt for accessibility (e.g., oral administration) if needed.
Reliability and Validity
The SAPAS demonstrates strong psychometric properties for a brief screener (Moran et al., 2003; Germans et al., 2008; Fok et al., 2014). Internal consistency is moderate (Cronbach’s alpha ≈ 0.60–0.70), reflecting the scale’s brevity and dichotomous items, based on samples of 60 psychiatric outpatients and 195 general practice patients. Test-retest reliability is high (r ≈ 0.85–0.95 over 1–2 weeks). Convergent validity is supported by correlations with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Personality Disorders (SCID-II; r ≈ 0.50–0.70) and full SAP (r ≈ 0.60–0.80).
Discriminant validity is evidenced by weak correlations with unrelated constructs like general intelligence (r < 0.20). Criterion validity is shown by its ability to predict DSM-IV personality disorder diagnoses (AUC ≈ 0.85–0.90). Factorial validity supports a unidimensional structure. The scale has been validated in diverse populations, including primary care and psychiatric settings across countries. Pairing with measures like the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems – Personality Disorders – 25 (Pilkonis et al., 1996) or Five Factor Model Rating Form enhances comprehensive personality assessment.
Available Versions
08-Items
Reference
Moran, P., Leese, M., Lee, T., Walters, P., Thornicroft, G., & Mann, A. (2003). Standardised Assessment of Personality–Abbreviated Scale (SAPAS): preliminary validation of a brief screen for personality disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 183(3), 228-232.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Standardised Assessment of Personality – Abbreviated Scale measure?
It screens for the likelihood of personality disorders based on interpersonal and behavioral patterns.
Who is the target population?
Adults in psychiatric or general practice settings.
How long does it take to administer?
Approximately 2–3 minutes.
Can it inform interventions?
Yes, it identifies probable personality disorders to guide diagnostic assessments and treatment planning.
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