Journal of Forensic Psychology

Abstract

Validation of the Translated Dutch Personality Questionnaire in Papiamento Speaking Prisoners

Van de Vorst M, Vinkers DJ, Matroos G, Heijte F and Hoek HW

Background: Personality disorders have a high prevalence among prisoners worldwide. Yet, in prisoners with an Antillean Caribbean background, personality disorder rates are low probably due to a lack of standardized personality tests in the Caribbean language of Papiamento which to render objective diagnoses. This also has a great potential to result in inappropriate treatment and negative interaction. Therefore, in hopes of proving better diagnostics and treatment and fill this absence, the purpose of this article is to describe a study of the effectiveness and relevance of a standard personality disorder diagnostic interview translated into Papiamento.

Methods: The Dutch Personality Questionnaire was translated to Papiamento by two independent experts and retranslated into Dutch by two other independent experts. Prisoners having both parents born in Bonaire, who had been detained for at least 18 days by the Judicial Detention Centre of the Caribbean Netherlands in Bonaire, during the period from January 1, 2013 to July 1, 2014 were examined using this questionnaire.

Results: There were 23 Papiamento speaking prisoners assessed using the translated Dutch Personality Questionnaire during the study period. There was a sufficient internal reliability and a validity of the personality test. Preliminary norms for use of the NPV in Papiamento were also included.

Conclusion: The use of the NPV in Papiamento may lead to more valid results about the rates of personality disorders among Carib prisoners, and well as improved treatment. Future research should include larger numbers of participants.