Life Problems Inventory (LPI)

Rathus & Miller

Scoring Instructions and Information

Description: The LPI is a 60-item, self-report measure designed for adolescents specifically to
correspond with features of Borderline Personality Disorder/Emotion Dysregulation as
conceptualized by Linehan (1993a; 1993b; 2015a; 2015b, Rathus & Miller, 2015) and as targeted
in DBT Skills Training. Clinicians/researchers can use both total scores and subscale scores.

Total scale score: Simply sum ratings across all 60 items. There is no reverse scoring.

Subscale scores: Sum the items corresponding to each scale, as follows:

Scale Items
Confusion about Self 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, 33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53, 57
Impulsivity 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, 38, 42, 46, 50, 54, 58
Emotional Dysregulation 3, 7, 11, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31, 35, 39, 43, 47, 51, 55, 59
Interpersonal Chaos 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44, 48, 52, 56, 60

 Scale is best used to compare groups or to mark change.

 Based on the means and standard deviations of BPD and normative adolescent samples,
we suggest a cut-off of 126 and higher on the LPI total score to distinguish those
adolescents with features of borderline personality from normal controls.

 Several adolescent-specific items can be slightly re-worded for use with adults.

 Psychometric data supports the scale’s internal consistency reliability, construct validity,
test-retest reliability, and sensitivity to change with DBT treatment. Research supports
the scale’s psychometric properties in teens and college students.

 Internal consistency reliability findings indicate that each scale is internally consistent
and distinct, AND the summed scales form a unified construct of BPD features/emotion
dysregulation (see articles, below).

 Psychometric evaluation references:

Rathus, J.H., Wagner, D., & Miller, A.L. (2015). Psychometric evaluation of the Life
Problems Inventory, a measure of borderline personality features in adolescents. Journal
of Psychology and Psychotherapy, 5.

Wagner, D., Rathus, J.H., & Miller, A.L. (2015). Reliability and validity of the Life
Problems Inventory, a self-report measure of borderline personality features, in a college
student sample. Journal of Psychology and Psychotherapy, 5.
Name__________________________________ Date________________________

Life Problems Inventory (LPI)

Instructions: Below is a list of statements of problems adolescents sometimes have. Please read each one and then
write in the number that describes the way you are MOST OF THE TIME.

NOT AT ALL A LITTLE BIT SOMEWHAT QUITE A BIT EXTREMELY

LIKE ME LIKE ME LIKE ME LIKE ME LIKE ME
1 2 3 4 5

____ 1. I’m not sure I know who I am or what I want in life.

____ 2. I usually act quickly, without thinking
____ 3. I sometimes get so upset that I want to hurt myself seriously.
____ 4. I worry a lot about being left alone.

____ 5. I sometimes go into a daze and lose awareness of things going on around me.
____ 6. Sometimes I plan to go to class, but will change my mind if something better comes along.
____ 7. Killing myself may be the easiest way of solving my problems.
____ 8. I often feel sad and unloved.

____ 9. I sometimes feel very unhappy with who I am.

____ 10. If I want to do something, I just do it without thinking of what might happen.
____ 11. More and more often I think of ending my own life.
____ 12. Relationships with people I care about have a lot of ups and downs.

____ 13. Other kids my age seem more sure than I am of who they are and what they want.
____ 14. I often have too much to drink or get drunk.
____ 15. When I don’t get my way, I quickly lose my temper.
____ 16. I hate to spend time alone.

____ 17. I feel lonely and empty most of the time

____ 18. I often get high on street drugs like marijuana or other drugs.
____ 19. Even little things get me really depressed.
____ 20. I will sometimes do almost anything to avoid feeling alone.

____ 21. I feel pretty lost and don’t know where I’m going in life.
____ 22. I have deliberately hurt myself without meaning to kill myself (such as cutting or scratching
myself).
____ 23. When things don’t go my way, I give up and feel helpless.
____ 24. I feel very depressed when I’m alone

____ 25. I’m not that mature for my age, and I don’t know what I want to do in life.
____ 26. I have made at least one suicide attempt.
____ 27. Once I get upset, it takes me along time to calm down.
____ 28. I feel very nervous, angry, or empty when I am alone.

2
 NOT AT ALL A LITTLE BIT SOMEWHAT QUITE A BIT EXTREMELY
LIKE ME LIKE ME LIKE ME LIKE ME LIKE ME
1 2 3 4 5

____ 29. I often feel empty or bored.

____ 30. I’ve eaten so much food that I was in a lot of pain or had to throw up.
____ 31. I feel angry a lot of the time.
____ 32. I often fear I will be abandoned by people I feel close to.

____ 33. I often feel like I’m not real, as if I’m physically separated from my feelings.
____ 34. I’ve spent money on things I didn’t need or couldn’t afford.
____ 35. I often get furious at people.
____ 36. I often fear I will totally fall apart if someone important abandons or rejects me.

____ 37. I am so different at different times that I sometimes don’t know who I really am.
____ 38. I’ve lost my temper and really yelled or screamed at someone.
____ 39. I get into arguments very easily.
____ 40. Many of my relationships have been full of intense arguments.

____ 41. I’m often confused about my goals.

____ 42. I’ve threatened to physically hurt someone (such as hit or punch them).
____ 43. I often feel very anxious or worried about things.
____ 44. I have had lots of breakups with people I’ve been close to.

____ 45. I often change my mind about the kind of friends I want.
____ 46. I’ve physically hurt or attacked someone (such as slapped, punched, or gotten into
fistfights).
____ 47. I get very moody, where I change quickly from feeling OK to feeling really bad or angry.
____ 48. In close relationships, I often think the other person is perfect sometimes, but I think they’re
terrible at other times.

____ 49. I’m often not sure what I really believe in.
____ 50. I have damaged property (such as smashing dishes or breaking things).
____ 51. Sometimes I get so angry that I lose control.
____ 52. My relationships with others are often very strong or intense, but they don’t go that
smoothly.

____ 53. Sometimes it seems as if things around me are not real, as though I’m in a dream.
____ 54. I’ve done something that’s against the law (like shoplifting, selling drugs, etc.)
____ 55. Even little things get me really angry.
____ 56. Sometimes I beg someone to try to stop them from leaving me.

____ 57. I often have trouble keeping my attention on what I need to do (like homework or solving a
problem).
____ 58. I’ve had sex with people I hardly knew, or had unsafe sex.
____ 59. I get so angry that I hit people or throw things.
____ 60. I often don’t get along with authority figures (such as parents or teachers).