Form No number No number Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire

To print copies of the PDQ-4 test booklet to be given to clients please use file called "PDQ4 test booklet suitable for
printing" also located on the disk. The current file provides a listing of PDQ-4 questions in sequential order. The set-up of
the questions on the page must be different in order for the test booklets to print out properly. The proper formatting for
the test booklet is supplied in the other file.

PDQ-4+
Personality
Questionnaire

Developed by Steven E. Hyler, M.D. of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. The items included in the PDQ-4 were
adapted from the diagnostic criteria for personality disorders of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, (DSM-IV) and contains items originally included in the PDQ and
PDQ-R personality questionnaires. Investigators who wish to use this instrument should contact Dr. Hyler, New York State
Psychiatric Institute, Unit #112, 722 West 168th Street, New York, N.Y. 10032. Telephone (212) 960-5656.
8/98 AL

www.pdq4.com

ID _______________
Today’s date________________________
Instructions
The purpose of this questionnaire is for you to describe the kind of person you are. When answering
the questions, think about how you have tended to feel, think, and act over the past several years. To
remind you of this, on the top of each page you will find the statement: “Over the past several
years...”
Please answer either True or False to each item.
Where:
T (True) means that the statement is generally true for you.
F(False) means that the statement is generally false for you.
Even if you are not entirely sure about the answer, indicate “T” or “F” for every question.
For example, for the question:
xx. I te nd to be stubborn.

T

F

If, in fact you have been stubborn over the past several years, you would answer True by circling T.
If, this was not true at all for you, you would answer False by circling F.
There are no correct answers.
You make take as muc h time as you wish.

1. I avoid working with others who may
criticize me.

T

F

2. I can’t make decisions without the
advice, or reassurance, of others.

T

F

3. I often get lost in details and lose
sight of the “big picture.”

T

F

4. I need to be the center of attention.

T

F

5. I have accomplished far more than
others give me credit for.

T

F

6. I’ll go to extremes to prevent those
who I love from ever leaving me.

T

F

7. Others have complained that I do not
keep up with my work or commitments.

T

F

8. I’ve been in trouble with the law
several times (or would have been
if I had been caught).

T

F

9. Spending time with family or friends
just doesn’t interest me.

T

F

10. I get special messages from things
happening around me.

T

F

11. I know that people will take advantage
of me, or try to cheat me, if I let them.

T

F

12. Sometimes I get upset.

T

F

13. I make friends with people only when
I am sure they like me.

T

F

14. I am usually depressed.

T

F

15. I prefer that other people assume
responsibility for me.

T

F

16. I waste time trying to make things
too perfect.

T

F

17. I am “sexier” than most people.

T

F

18. I often find myself thinking about
how great a person I am, or will be.

T

F

19. I either love someone or hate them,
with nothing in between.

T

F

20. I get into a lot of physical fights.

T

F

21. I feel that others don’t understand
or appreciate me.

T

F

22. I would rather do things by myself
than with other people.

T

F

23. I have the ability to know that some
things will happen before they
actually do.

T

F

24. I often wonder whether the people
I know can really be trusted.

T

F

25. Occasionally I talk about people
behind their backs.

T

F

26. I am inhibited in my intimate
relationships because I am afraid
of being ridiculed.

T

F

27. I fear losing the support of others
if I disagree with them.

T

F

28. I have many shortcomings.

T

F

29. I put my work ahead of being with
my fami ly or friends or having fun.

T

F

30. I show my emotions easily.

T

F

31. Only certain special people can
really appreciate and understand me.

T

F

32. I often wonder who I really am.

T

F

33. I have difficulty paying bills because
I don’t stay at any one job for very long.

T

F

34. Sex just doesn’t interest me.

T

F

35. Others consider me moody and
“hot tempered.”

T

F

36. I can often sense, or feel things,
that others can’t.

T

F

37. Others will use what I tell them
against me.

T

F

38. There are some people I don’t like.

T

F

39. I am more sensitive to criticism or
rejection than most people.

T

F

40. I find it difficult to start something
if I have to do it by myself.

T

F

41. I have a higher sense of morality
than other people.

T

F

42. I am my own worst critic.

T

F

43. I use my “looks” to get the attention
that I need.

T

F

44. I very much need other people
to take notice of me or compliment me.

T

F

45. I have tried to hurt or kill myself.

T

F

46. I do a lot of things without considering
the consequences.

T

F

47. There are few activities that I have
any interest in.

T

F

48. People often have difficulty
understanding what I say.

T

F

49. I object to supervisors telling me
how I should do my job.

T

F

50. I keep alert to figure out the real
meaning of what people are saying.

T

F

51. I have never told a lie.

T

F

52. I am afraid to meet new people
because I feel inadequate.

T

F

53. I want people to like me so much
that I volunteer to do things that
I’d rather not do.

T

F

54. I have accumulated lots of things
that I don’t need but I can’t bear to
throw out.

T

F

55. Even though I talk a lot, people
say that I have trouble getting to
the point.

T

F

56. I worry a lot.

T

F

57. I expect other people to do favors for
me even though I do not usually
do favors for them.

T

F

58. I am a very moody person.

T

F

59. Lying comes easily to me and
I often do it.

T

F

60. I am not interested in having
close friends.

T

F

61. I am often on guard against
being taken advantage of.

T

F

62. I never forget, or forgive,
those who do me wrong.

T

F

63. I resent those who have more
“luck” than I.

T

F

64. A nuclear war may not be such
a bad idea.

T

F

65. When alone, I feel helpless and
unable to care for myself.

T

F

66. If others can’t do things correctly,
I would prefer to do them myself.

T

F

67. I have a flair for the dramatic.

T

F

68. Some people think that I take
advantage of others.

T

F

69. I feel that my life is dull and
meaningless.

T

F

70. I am critical or others.

T

F

71. I don’t care what others have to say
about me.

T

F

72. I have difficulties relating to others
in a one-to-one situation.

T

F

73. People have often complained that
I did not realize that they were upset.

T

F

74. By looking at me, people might think
that I’m pretty odd, eccentric or weird.

T

F

75. I enjoy doing risky things.

T

F

76. I have lied a lot on this questionnaire.

T

F

77. I complain a lot about my hardships.

T

F

78. I have difficulty controlling my anger,
or temper.

T

F

79. Some people are jealous of me.

T

F

80. I am easily influenced by others.

T

F

81. I see myself as thrifty but others
see me as being cheap.

T

F

82. When a close relationship ends,
I need to get involved with someone
else immediately.

T

F

83. I suffer from low self esteem.

T

F

84. I am a pessimist.

T

F

85. I waste no time in getting back
at people who insult me.

T

F

86. Being around other people
makes me nervous.

T

F

87. In new situations, I fear being
embarrassed.

T

F

88. I am terrified of being left
to care for myself.

T

F

89. People complain that I’m
“stubborn as a mule.”

T

F

90. I take relationships more
seriously than do those who
I’m involved with.

T

F

91. I can be nasty with someone one
minute, then find myself apologizing
to them the next minute.

T

F

92. Others consider me to be stuck up.

T

F

93. When stressed, things happen. Like
I get paranoid or just “black out.”

T

F

94. I don’t care if others get hurt so long
as I get what I want.

T

F

95. I keep my distance from others.

T

F

96. I often wonder whether my wife
(husband, girlfriend, or boyfriend)
has been unfaithful to me.

T

F

97. I often feel guilty.

T

F

98. I have done things on impulse
(such as those below ) that could have
gotten me into trouble.

T

F

Check all that apply to you:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
g.

Spending more money than I have
Having sex with people I hardly know
Drinking too much
Taking drugs
Eating binges
Reckless driving

99.

When I was a kid (before age 15),
I was somewhat of a juvenile delinquent,
doing some of the things below.
T

F

Now, Check° all that apply to you:
(1) I was considered a bully. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) I used to start fights with other kids. . . . . . . .
(3) I used a weapon in fights that I had. . . . . . . .
(4) I robbed or mugged other people. . . . . . . . .
(5) I was physically cruel to other people. . . . . .
(6) I was physically cruel to animals. . . . . . . . . .
(7) I forced someone to have sex with me. . . . .
(8) I lied a lot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(9) I stayed out at night without my parents
permission. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(10) I stole things from others. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(11) I set fires. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(12) I broke windows or destroyed property. . . . .
(13) I ran away from home overnight
more than once. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(14) I began skipping school, a lot,
before age 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(15) I broke into someone’s house,
building or car. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thank-you for your time

PDQ-4
Clinical Significance Scale
Interview guide
If the patient has scored at or above threshold on any disorder evaluated, the clinician should use this interview format to
assess the clinical significance of the disorder.

You have reported that the following related items are true for you:
(Read the pathological items for each disorder, one at a time, to the patient)
A.

Are any of the items not really true for you?
Indicate which:__________
*delete any indicated items that the patient
reports are not really true for them.

B.

How long have these items been part of your personality?
Less than one year
_____
One to five years
_____
*Most of your life, or since before age 18
_____

C.

Have these items been part of your personality only when you
have been depressed, anxious, using alcohol/drugs or physically ill
or have they been there most of the time regardless of your mood, level of anxiety, use
of alcohol/drugs or general state of health?
Only when depressed
Only when anxious
Only when using alcohol/drugs
Only when physically ill
*Not related to any of the above

D.

_____
_____
_____
_____
_____

In what areas have these items created difficulties for you:
At home
______
At work
______
* impairment in at least one
In relationships
______
area is required to meet D.
Other (specify)____________________
or

E.

Are you bothered about yourself because of the above?
*Yes _____
No _____

*To be clinically significant the personality disorder: must still meet the threshold after the patient has
been given the opportunity to indicate that items were not really true (A), the disorder must be
longstanding (B), the disorder must not be limited to times when the patient has been depressed,
anxious, using alcohol/drugs, or physically ill (C), the disorder must either have led to impairment (D)
or distress (E).
Repeat for each disorder that is above threshold.