Level of personality functioning of adolescents in an acute psychiatric treatment setting: A cohort study
Level of personality functioning of adolescents in an acute psychiatric treatment setting: A cohort study

Level of personality functioning of adolescents in an acute psychiatric treatment setting: A cohort study

Bull Menninger Clin. 2025 Summer;89(3):240-258. doi: 10.1521/bumc.2025.89.3.240.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Adolescents admitted as acute inpatients are a particularly vulnerable psychosocial population. This study aimed to examine their level of personality functioning in an acute psychiatric treatment setting.

METHODS: We evaluated personality functioning in 62 adolescents using the Level of Personality Functioning-Questionnaire 12-18 (LoPF-Q 12-18) from a patient perspective and the Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS) completed by clinicians.

RESULTS: Adolescent patients exhibited a relatively high level of impaired personality functioning, with females tending to show partly higher levels of impairment than males. The agreement between self-reported and clinician reported impairment of personality functioning was low. Biopsychosocial mental health was a strong predictor of self-reported and clinician-reported levels of personality functioning, in contrast to nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior and suicidality.

CONCLUSION: Our findings identify important characteristics of adolescents in acute psychiatric inpatient units. The LoPF-Q may serve as a valuable screening tool for diagnostics and treatment.

PMID:40990972 | DOI:10.1521/bumc.2025.89.3.240