Abstract
The aim of the current study was to validate the Italian version of the Attitude to Personality Disorder Questionnaire (APDQ), assess its psychometric properties, and investigate nurses' attitudes toward patients with personality disorders. An Italian version of the APDQ was produced and administered to nurses working in the Bologna Mental Health Department. The instrument demonstrated good psychometric proprieties and a robust structure and supported the five-factor solution of the original English version. Findings showed that nurses experience negative feelings toward patients with personality disorders and found them difficult to care for. Attitude was found to be better among less experienced nurses and among those working in inpatient settings. The Italian version of the APDQ appears to be a useful instrument for assessing clinicians' attitudes in a variety of settings. Italian nurses were inclined to perceive these patients in a negative manner, frequently expressing aversive feelings.