Correspondence between psychological reports based on the Mini-Mult and the MMPI.

In order to assess the utility of the Mini-Mult with a university counseling center clientele, MMPI answer sheets of 10 students at the University of Miami Counseling Center were scored for both the MMPI and the Mini-Mult. Four judges completed psychological reports (Q-item questionnaires) based on the profiles. Correlations between judges' responses to MMPI and Mini-Mult profiles were calculated as an indication of the correspondence between the two tests. In addition, correlations between judges' responses to repeated presentations of MMPI profiles were calculated as an indication of the judges' reliability over time. The results do not support the use of the Mini-Mult with a university counseling center clientele.     

Concordance of the MCMI-II, the MMPI, and Axis I discharge diagnosis in psychiatric inpatients.

Discriminant functions of the MMPI and the MCMI-II were compared in a sample of 166 hospitalized psychiatric patients with discharge diagnoses of affective disorder (63), schizophrenia (26), substance abuse (35), and other disorders (42). Of special interest was the comparative diagnostic utility of the two instruments in regards to DSM-III-R Axis I diagnoses. Both tests performed reasonably well in the discriminant function analyses; however, the MCMI-II achieved a somewhat superior overall hit rate with this sample of inpatients (79% to 68%). This difference was tied to greater accuracy of the MCMI-II for identifying the affective disorders group.     

(Hu)man versus mean revisited: MMPI group data and psychiatric diagnosis.

A meta-analysis of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) data from 403 control and psychiatric samples was used to (a) examine demographics associated with previously published MMPI studies, (b) test Goldberg's (1972) indexes for predicting normal versus deviant and neurotic versus psychotic group membership, (c) compare multiple regression, discriminant function, and logistic regression analyses commonly used to study the relation between the MMPI and diagnostic group membership, and (d) examine the signal within the MMPI as it relates to current psychiatric diagnosis. Group data were found to be efficient indicators of the relation between the MMPI and diagnosis, although efficiency is compromised by within-sample heterogeneity. The 3 statistical methods examined obtained equivalent results. Regression models related to group prediction are presented.     

MMPI predictors of mania among psychiatric inpatients

MMPI data from 64 patients with a diagnosis of manic-depressive illness, manic type, were compared with MMPI data from patients in two comparison groups--64 patients with a psychotic diagnosis other than manic-depressive illness, and 64 patients with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses. Manic patients had higher Ma scale scores for MMPI scales that assess personal distress and interpersonal difficulties (e.g., D and Si). Discriminant analysis, with the Ma, D, and Si scales as predictors, correctly classified as manic or not manic 82.5% of the patients in the derivation sample and 74.2% of the patients in the cross-validation sample. Two high-point pairs, Sc-Ma/Ma-Sc and Pa-Ma/Ma-Pa, occurred in the MMPI profiles of almost half of the manic patients but were rarely found among the profiles of other patients. The results of this study support the use of the MMPI in identifying manic patients, particularly when discriminating between mania and other types of psychosis.     

MMPI differences among Mexican-American male and female psychiatric inpatients

The purpose of this study was to examine to what extent Mexican-American male and female psychiatric patients, who share similar DSM-III--R diagnoses, differ on the MMPI. Differences were found on the Infrequency, Masculinity-Femininity, and Paranoia scales, with the 39 men obtaining significantly higher scores than the 21 women. These results, while suggesting possible differences in the phenomenology of depression, also suggest that MMPI differences between Mexican-American men and women may be reflective of culturally-defined sex roles. These results, when taken within the context of Mexican-American MMPI literature, indicate that researchers should always attempt to account for "gender" when conducting cross-ethnic MMPI comparisons. The practice of grouping the MMPIs of Mexican-American men and women for comparison with other ethnic groups should be discontinued in favor of comparisons that consider the effects of gender and ethnicity.     

Effects of scoring norms on adolescent psychiatric patients' MMPI profiles.

Effects of employing standard adult and age-appropriate norms on the profile elevation, patterning and classification of adolescent patients' MMPI profiles were examined. More elevated and more often psychotic profiles were obtained with adult norms. Some sex differences were observed, but patient race was not an important source of profile variation.     

The construct validity of the MMPI alexithymia scale with psychiatric inpatients

Relatively few studies have addressed the issue of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) alexithymia scale's construct validity. In this study, the validity of the scale is supported by the finding of a significantly lower percentage of alexithymic individuals in a large sample of psychiatric inpatients than in samples of patients with a variety of physical disorders (i.e., migraine headaches, asthma bronchitis/emphysema, and hypertension). Validity of the scale is further supported through a comparison of the alexithymic and nonalexithymic psychiatric inpatients on a series of Rorschach and MMPI variables. As predicted, alexithymics were less verbally productive, displayed less ability to fantasize, and demonstrated greater defensive pseudonormality. Results suggest the measure may be of value in studies of psychiatric patients as well as those with physical disorders.     

MMPI validity scales and behavioral disturbance in psychiatric inpatients.

Sixty psychiatric inpatients were assigned to one of three groups on the basis of F and K MMPI validity scales. Staff ratings of patient behavior and recorded incidents of "acting-out" behavior were obtained for patients with: (a) "plea for help" validity profiles, (b) hyper-defensive profiles, and (c) average profiles. Patients with "plea for help" profiles were perceived as "acting-out" more frequently and engendering more feelings of frustration than patients in the other groups. These patients account for 77% of the incidents of inappropriate, destructive behavior and 83% of the seclusions in the patients sampled. Although the "plea for help" profile is considered invalid in some scoring systems, results suggest that this validity profile may be useful in treatment planning.     

Revising psychological tests: lessons learned from the revision of the MMPI

Some types of psychological tests become dated and require more frequent and more extensive revision than others. Because of the formidable effort that is required in a test revision, the goals and scope of the revision need to be carefully staked out before a revision is undertaken. The revision team needs to develop a generally agreed-upon guiding philosophy for the test revision in the beginning of the project and incorporate broad input into the changes that are likely to be required. Factors important to consider in a test revision are discussed, and the parameters of personality test revision illustrated from the extensive program to revise the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) are included. Recommendations for gauging acceptance of the revision are suggested along with steps that revisers and publishers might take to make a test revision both more research based and more acceptable to test users.     

Kinetic Family Drawings and MMPI diagnostic indicators in adolescent psychiatric inpatients

Correlations among Kinetic Family Drawings and MMPI indicators of depressive, anxiety, behavioral, and thought disorders and diagnostic category were estimated for a group of 52 adolescent psychiatric inpatients. No statistically significant values were found between test indicators and corresponding MMPI scales or diagnoses, although MMPI D and Sc scales were significantly related to diagnosis. Results do not support the concurrent or construct validity of the drawings.