Reliability and validity of the Danish version of the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI)

Schema modes are conceptualized as different parts of oneself, related to specific emotions, cognitions, and behaviors. They are a central concept in schema therapy for personality pathology and other chronic psychiatric disorders. Prior research confirms the factorial validity of the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI), an instrument to assess schema modes. This study presents an evaluation of the Danish version of the SMI, including reliability and validity analyses. Psychometric properties, such as factor structure, internal reliability, as well as intercorrelations between subscales were assessed. This was done on the basis of a mixed Danish sample (N = 657; M age = 29.32 years; range = 18-66 years; 78.5% females) composed of 266 clinical and 391 nonclinical adult participants. Results indicated model fit for the 14-factor structure of the SMI and adequate to excellent internal reliabilities of the 14 subscales (Cronbach's α =.74-.96). Furthermore, the SMI scales differentiated between clinical and nonclinical participants as theoretically predicted. These findings imply that the SMI is a sound instrument to measure the schema mode model in a Danish setting, both for clinical and research purposes, and in particular for assessment prior to schema therapy.