Psychometric properties of the abbreviated Spanish version of TCI-R (TCI-140) and its relationship with the Psychopathological Personality Scales (MMPI-2 PSY-5) in patients

The short version of the Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised (TCI-R), the TCI-140, is presented. This study aimed: a) to obtain the psychometric properties of TCI-140; b) to analyze the relationship with the normal version of the TCI-R, and c) to study its convergent validity with the MMPI-2 PSY-5. The TCI-R and MMPI-2 PSY-5 scales were administered to a sample of consecutive psychiatric inpatients with differential Axis I and II diagnoses. It was found that the TCI-140 dimensions showed reliability coefficients ranging from 0.67 (Reward dependence [RD]) to 0.86 (Self-Transcendence [ST]) and the reliability coefficients of PSY-5 ranging from 0.68 (CON) to 0.86 (NE/NEU). Correlations for the dimensions with the TCI-R original 240-item version and TCI-R 140 item version ranged from 0.91 (Self-Directedness [SD]) to 0.97 (ST). The dimensions had a normal distribution. Correlations of TCI-140 scales with PSY-5 scales provided preliminary evidence supporting the convergent validity of the constructs. Then, Novelty Seeking (NS) was associated with low Constraint, Harm Avoidance (HA) was associated with low Aggressiveness and Positive Emotionality/ Extraversion, and also with high Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism, Reward Dependence (RD) was associated with high Positive Emotionality/Extraversion. Persistence (PS) was related to high aggressiveness, and Positive Emotionality/ Extraversion. On the other hand, SD was correlated with low Psychoticism, and Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism, and also with high Positive Emotionality/Extraversion. Cooperativeness (C) had a relationship to high constraint and low psychoticism. Finally ST was associated with high psychoticism and Positive Emotionality/Extraversion. The short Spanish version of TCI-R is a useful inventory for the evaluation of the principals dimensions of temperament and character.