MAPI code types in an inpatient crisis-unit sample

Limited data is available concerning the use of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI; Millon, Green, & Meagher, 1982) and high-point code combinations of its personality style scales. Our study reports on the frequency of high-point codes in an inpatient crisis-unit sample. Data analyses comparing personality style codes using MAPI expressed concerns scale elevations and Rorschach data are reported. Results comparing the personality style codes and expressed concerns scales were consistent with the findings of Millon et al. (1982). Analyses comparing Rorschach and MAPI data revealed only the presence or absence of vista responses as having any appreciable relationship to MAPI codes or personality scales.     

MAPI Code Types in an Inpatient Crisis-Unit Sample

Limited data is available concerning the use of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI; Millon, Green, & Meagher, 1982) and high-point code combinations of its personality style scales. Our study reports on the frequency of high-point codes in an inpatient crisis-unit sample. Data analyses comparing personality style codes using MAPI expressed concerns scale elevations and Rorschach data are reported. Results comparing the personality style codes and expressed concerns scales were consistent with the findings of Millon et al. (1982). Analyses comparing Rorschach and MAPI data revealed only the presence or absence of vista responses as having any appreciable relationship to MAPI codes or personality scales.     

Checking the reliability and validity of HSPQ profiles

Developed a scale designed to detect invalid response patterns on the High School Personality Questionnaire (HSPQ). Using a large sample of protocols drawn from the HSPQ standardization group, ten items were found to satisfy the necessary criterion for inclusion in the resulting "random" or "validity" (RV) scale. When applied to separate cross-validation groups of nearly 2,000 valid and randomly generated response protocols, RV was found to correctly classify 79% of the profiles. As a further test of the scale's utility, 100 profiles classified as valid and 100 classified as invalid were selected for comparison. In the invalid group, KR-20 reliabilities of the 14 trait scales were almost uniformly lowered, Also, for the invalid group the correlations among the trait scales were attenuated and altered to the extent that the underlying factor structure of the test was upset.     

MMPI--2 Code-Type Congruence of Injured Workers

In this study, the authors examined the stability of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2 (J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) code types in a sample of 94 injured workers with a mean test-retest interval of 21.3 months (SD = 14.1). Congruence rates for undefined code types were 34% for high-point codes, 22% for 2-point codes, and 22% for 3-point codes. The data provide tentative evidence suggesting that defined code types are more stable than undefined code types. Cohen's kappa, a statistic that controls for chance agreement, was calculated for each clinical scale for both 2-point and 3-point code types. Only 2 of the 20 kappa coefficients were not significant at the p = .05 level.     

Serial pattern complexity: irregularity and hierarchy.

In perception research, various models have been designed for the encoding of, for example, visual patterns, in order to predict the human interpretation of such patterns. Each of these encoding models provides a few coding rules to obtain codes for a pattern, each code expressing regularity and hierarchy in that pattern. Some of these models employ the minimum principle which states that the human interpretation of a pattern is reflected by the simplest code for that pattern, ie the simplest code according to a given complexity metric. In this paper a new complexity metric is proposed. This metric is based on a formal analysis of the concept of regularity. Some conclusions of this analysis are sketched. The new metric does not depend on artifacts of the coding rules. It accounts for the amounts of irregularity and hierarchy as represented in a code of a pattern, such that these two amounts can be added to determine the complexity of a code. An experiment is discussed that shows that the new metric performs significantly better than the metrics used previously. In particular, the new metric predicts more local pattern organizations than the old metrics. This implies that various local pattern organizations do not falsify the minimum principle anymore.     

An evaluation of the incremental validity of the MMPI-2 Superlative (S) scale in an inpatient psychiatric sample

The MMPI-2 Superlative (S) scale was developed by Butcher and Han (1995) to assess individuals' tendencies to present themselves in an unrealistically positive light. The current study examined the performance of the L, K, and S scales in accurately distinguishing the MMPI-2 profiles of 379 psychiatric inpatients who produced one or more elevations on the basic scale profiles, from 82 psychiatric inpatients who produced no clinical range elevation on any of the eight basic clinical scales (excluding scales 5 and 0). The findings from the present study indicate that the S scale appears to be effective in the identification of defensiveness among psychiatric inpatients, with mean effect sizes in the moderate to large range. The optimal T-score cutoff for identifying defensive responders was 70 for both men and women. Further, results of hierarchical regression analyses showed that the S scale added incrementally to the prediction levels achieved by the optimal combination of the L and K scales.     

An Investigation of the Mini-Mult Validity Scales

Examined the ability of the Mini-Mult validity scales to detect invalid MMPI profiles. When 34 invalid MMPI profiles were rescored with the Mini-Muir only 17 of the 34 profiles invalidated by the full MMPI were detected with the Mini-Mult. This included 14 of 27 profiles invalidated by an elevated F scale; 2 of 4 profiles invalidated by an elevated L scale and 1 of 3 profiles invalidated by an elevated K scale. Only 14 of 27 profiles invalidated by an F-K ratio of K11 were detected. When new conversion values for the Mini-Mult were utilized, the detection rate improved considerably for the F scale and the F-K ratio.     

An investigation of the Mini-Mult validity scales

Examined the ability of the Mini-Mult validity scales to detect invalid MMPI profiles. When 34 invalid MMPI profiles were rescored with the Mini-Muir only 17 of the 34 profiles invalidated by the full MMPI were detected with the Mini-Mult. This included 14 of 27 profiles invalidated by an elevated F scale; 2 of 4 profiles invalidated by an elevated L scale and 1 of 3 profiles invalidated by an elevated K scale. Only 14 of 27 profiles invalidated by an F-K ratio of K11 were detected. When new conversion values for the Mini-Mult were utilized, the detection rate improved considerably for the F scale and the F-K ratio.     

Reducing MMPI-2 Defensiveness: The Effect of Specialized Instructions on Retest Validity in a Job Applicant Sample

The MMPI-2 is often used for screening job applicants when public safety or security are at risk. Inherent in such applications is concern for profile validity and test defensiveness. In this study, we examine the impact of revised instructions on profile validity for a group of job applicants who initially produced invalid profiles. Participants were 271 male applicants for airline pilot positions. Of these, 72 produced invalid defensive MMPI-2 profiles during preemployment screening. The MMPI-2 was readministered to these applicants with instructions informing them of validity scales and instructing them to respond in a more open, honest manner. Comparisons were made between valid and invalid profiles for initial administrations and between valid and invalid profiles at readministration. Some clinical scales were more elevated for valid, nondefensive profiles. Most content scales showed more elevation for valid profiles, and 12% of the applicants who were retested produced significant elevations on the content scales. Profiles were similar to those produced by employed pilots of a previous study.     

Reducing MMPI-2 defensiveness: the effect of specialized instructions on retest validity in a job applicant sample

The MMPI-2 is often used for screening job applicants when public safety or security are at risk. Inherent in such applications is concern for profile validity and test defensiveness. In this study, we examine the impact of revised instructions on profile validity for a group of job applicants who initially produced invalid profiles. Participants were 271 male applicants for airline pilot positions. Of these, 72 produced invalid defensive MMPI-2 profiles during preemployment screening. The MMPI-2 was readministered to these applicants with instructions informing them of validity scales and instructing them to respond in a more open, honest manner. Comparisons were made between valid and invalid profiles for initial administrations and between valid and invalid profiles at readministration. Some clinical scales were more elevated for valid, nondefensive profiles. Most content scales showed more elevation for valid profiles, and 12% of the applicants who were retested produced significant elevations (T>or=65) on the content scales. Profiles were similar to those produced by employed pilots of a previous study.     

The MMPI and clinical diagnosis: a comparison of classification system outcomes with discharge diagnoses

This study examined the agreement or congruence rate between clinical-discharge diagnoses rendered by a psychiatrist, and admission and discharge MMPI-derived diagnoses from four diagnostic classification systems that have been developed for the MMPI. The four classification systems included a simple high-point code based on the most elevated clinical scale in the profile, the Henrichs revision of the Meehl-Dahlstrom rules, the Goldberg equations, and a system developed by Lachar. Subjects consisted of 150 patients selected from a larger pool of patients who had completed a 9-week adult residential treatment program. Overall, this study yielded modest hit rates between 26% and 34% for MMPI-derived diagnoses and psychiatric diagnoses across the various classification systems. In addition, stability of MMPI-based diagnoses from admission to discharge assessments ranged from 48% to 51% depending on the classification system employed. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for the use of the MMPI in patient diagnosis. It is recommended that the MMPI be used in conjunction with other sources of clinical and test information in deriving clinical diagnoses.     

On the invalidity of validity scales: evidence from self-reports and observer ratings in volunteer samples

Because of the potential for bias and error in questionnaire responding, many personality inventories include validity scales intended to correct biased scores or identify invalid protocols. The authors evaluated the utility of several types of validity scales in a volunteer sample of 72 men and 106 women who completed the Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R; P. T. Costa & R. R. McCrae, 1992) and the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; A. Tellegen, 1978/1982) and were rated by 2 acquaintances on the observer form of the NEO-PI-R. Analyses indicated that the validity indexes lacked utility in this sample. A partial replication (N = 1,728) also failed to find consistent support for the use of validity scales. The authors illustrate the use of informant ratings in assessing protocol validity and argue that psychological assessors should limit their use of validity scales and seek instead to improve the quality of personality assessments.     

Comparability of MMPI-2 scales and profiles over time

This study investigated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) scale and profile comparablilty for MMPI-2 profiles completed on 2 separate occasions by mental health patients receiving treatment at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (n = 114). Patients were predominantly men (96.5%), with an average age of 44.08 and an average of 12.39 years of education at the time of initial testing. MMPI-2 tests were completed on 2 separate occasions as a routine part of treatment with a mean interval between test administrations of 688 days. Findings were analyzed for the complete sample and for 3 subsamples with different test-retest intervals. MMPI-2 scale test-retest correlation coefficients for the entire sample ranged from .48 to .69 for the Basic scales, .49 to .80 for the Supplementary scales, and .56 to .78 for the Content scales with scale high-point agreement = 38.60%, high 2-point agreement = 16.67%, and high 3-point agreement = 19.30%. High-point agreement for subsets of participants with well-defined high points, 2-points and 3-points was 41.07%, 27.50%, and 25.93% respectively. Pearson r correlation coefficients for T scores across the Basic scales for pairs of profiles averaged .78, suggesting similarity of profile shape across testing occasions. MMPI-2 profiles were also examined in relation to Skinner and Jackson's 3 modal MMPI profile types.     

Sensitivity of the Faschingbauer abbreviated MMPI to hospitalized adolescents

Comparisons were obtained between Faschingbauer's abbreviated MMPI (FAM) and the standard MMPI for a sample of hospitalized adolescent psychiatric patients. The results showed close statistical correspondence, highly correlated scale group means, and high comparability in identifying valid and invalid profiles. Additionally, the FAM was successful in predicting several gross indices of psychopathology as well as high-point elevations on the standard-form MMPI. A replication supported the stability of these findings.     

Frequency of scale elevations and factor structure of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) in children and adolescents with intractable epilepsy.

The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) is a standardized rating scale that provides information about the nature and extent of executive function deficits displayed by children and adolescents in daily life. BRIEF protocols completed by parents of 80 children with intractable epilepsy were evaluated with respect to prevalence and severity of scale elevations in the sample, and also with respect to factor structure. Overall, the sample was rated as having significantly more executive function problems than healthy children in the BRIEF standardization sample; elevations on the Working Memory and Plan/Organize scales were most frequently seen. Fully 36% of the sample had four or more significantly elevated scales. However, 31% of the sample had no clinically elevated scales, indicating that executive difficulties, though frequent, are not necessarily characteristic of all children with severe epilepsy. As in the validation studies reported in the manual, a two-factor solution emerged from a principal factor analysis of BRIEF scales. However, the factor structure as given in the manual was not entirely replicated; specifically, the Monitor scale was found to load equivalently on both factors. The results of this study suggest that a substantial proportion of children with intractable epilepsy display significant executive function deficits in daily life. Research into the relationship of BRIEF scores to other measures of executive functioning in children with epilepsy is needed to further clarify its clinical utility.     

次要任务对词类判断任务中权力空间表征激活的影响

许多证据表明权力在大脑中是以垂直空间来进行表征的, 具体而言为言语和视觉空间编码。前人研究发现两种编码具有情境依赖性, 即当前任务决定了激活哪种编码。一般的词类判断任务主要依赖于言语编码。然而仍不确定的是, 当排除言语空间编码后, 词类判断任务能否激活视觉空间编码。本研究拟借助双任务范式探讨此问题。实验结果发现单任务条件下出现权力-空间交互, 并且双任务条件下, 这一交互只受到视觉空间次要任务的干扰。这说明, 词类判断任务也可依赖视觉空间编码, 并进一步支持了权力空间表征的情境依赖性。     

Frequency of Scale Elevations and Factor Structure of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) in Children and Adolescents With Intractable Epilepsy

The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) is a standardized rating scale that provides information about the nature and extent of executive function deficits displayed by children and adolescents in daily life. BRIEF protocols completed by parents of 80 children with intractable epilepsy were evaluated with respect to prevalence and severity of scale elevations in the sample, and also with respect to factor structure. Overall, the sample was rated as having significantly more executive function problems than healthy children in the BRIEF standardization sample; elevations on the Working Memory and Plan/Organize scales were most frequently seen. Fully 36% of the sample had four or more significantly elevated scales. However, 31% of the sample had no clinically elevated scales, indicating that executive difficulties, though frequent, are not necessarily characteristic of all children with severe epilepsy. As in the validation studies reported in the manual, a two-factor solution emerged from a principal factor analysis of BRIEF scales. However, the factor structure as given in the manual was not entirely replicated; specifically, the Monitor scale was found to load equivalently on both factors. The results of this study suggest that a substantial proportion of children with intractable epilepsy display significant executive function deficits in daily life. Research into the relationship of BRIEF scores to other measures of executive functioning in children with epilepsy is needed to further clarify its clinical utility.