MMPI response-set characteristics among adolescents

This study examined the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MPPI) profile characteristics for five different response sets in adolescent populations employing adolescent MMPI norms. In general, findings for "all-true" and "all-false" adolescent profiles were highly similar in shape and elevation to those reported in the adult literature (Graham, 1977; Lachar, 1974), whereas random profiles on adolescent norms differed substantially from adult-norm random profiles in shape but not elevation. The characteristics of "fake good" or "fake bad" response sets were investigated by the use of adolescent subjects in two settings. Ninety-four public high-school students were administered the MMPI with standard and "fake bad" instructions, and 24 adolescents in inpatient psychiatric treatment were administered the MMPI under standard and "fake good" instructions. The MMPI profiles generated by special instructional sets were analyzed in relation to the subject's age, sex, race, and actual MMPI profile features. Findings indicated that although sex and race effects were evident in normal adolescents' attempts to simulate psychopathology on the MMPI, teenagers generally produce profiles containing grossly exaggerated symptom patterns that are relatively easy to detect as invalid. In contrast, it was found that a substantial number of psychiatrically disturbed adolescents may effectively simulate normal profiles and that effectiveness in these attempts was related to greater age and lower actual MMPI T-score values on the Hs and Hy scales.     

MMPI Response-Set Characteristics Among Adolescents

This study examined the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MPPI) profile characteristics for five different response sets in adolescent populations employing adolescent MMPI norms. In general, findings for "all-true" and "all-false" adolescent profiles were highly similar in shape and elevation to those reported in the adult literature (Graham, 1977; Lachar, 1974), whereas random profiles on adolescent norms differed substantially from adult-norm random profiles in shape but not elevation. The characteristics of "fake good" or "fake bad" response sets were investigated by the use of adolescent subjects in two settings. Ninety-four public high-school students were administered the MMPI with standard and "fake bad" instructions, and 24 adolescents in inpatient psychiatric treatment were administered the MMPI under standard and "fake good" instructions. The MMPI profiles generated by special instructional sets were analyzed in relation to the subject's age, sex, race, and actual MMPI profile features. Findings indicated that although sex and race effects were evident in normal adolescents' attempts to simulate psychopathology on the MMPI, teenagers generally produce profiles containing grossly exaggerated symptom patterns that are relatively easy to detect as invalid. In contrast, it was found that a substantial number of psychiatrically disturbed adolescents may effectively simulate normal profiles and that effectiveness in these attempts was related to greater age and lower actual MMPI T-score values on the Hs and Hy scales.     

Comparability of MMPI and MMPI-2 profile patterns: Ben-Porath and Tellegen's inappropriate invocation of Mahalanobis's D2 function

Ben-Porath and Tellegen (1995) claimed that the data in the article by Humphrey and Dahlstrom (1995) were improperly analyzed by means of Q correlations between raw scores earned by the individuals in the forensic sample to establish pattern comparability between the original Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI; Hathaway & McKinley, 1943) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989), which were then contrasted with Q correlations between the corresponding T-score patterns. Ben-Porath and Tellegen (1995) contended that the Q correlation is affected by random factors and that a generalized distance function, D2, is the only legitimate index of profile comparability. Data are presented here to show that the Q correlation serves as a reliable index of pattern comparability, relatively unaffected by differences in profile elevation. The Mahalanobis (1936) D2 index is too heavily weighted with differences in profile elevation serve as the proper index of equivalence in profile patterning. The findings in the Humphrey and Dahlstrom (1995) article were based on appropriate data-analytic procedures because the primary concern is their investigation was the extent to which the patterns of T-score profiles from the original MMPI and the MMPI-2 are comparable when the raw-score patterns are virtually identical.     

Comparability of MMPI and MMPI-2 Profile Patterns: Ben-Porath and Tellegen's Inappropriate Invocation of Mahalanobis's D² Function

Ben-Porath and Tellegen (1995) claimed that the data in the article by Humphrey and Dahlstrom (1995) were improperly analyzed by means of Q correlations between raw scores earned by the individuals in the forensic sample to establish pattern comparability between the original Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI; Hathaway & McKinley, 1943) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989), which were then contrasted with Q correlations between the corresponding T-score patterns. Ben-Porath and Tellegen (1995) contended that the Q correlation is affected by random factors and that a generalized distance function, D², is the only legitimate index of profile comparability. Data are presented here to show that the Q correlation serves as a reliable index of pattern comparability, relatively unaffected by differences in profile elevation. The Mahalanobis (1936) D² index is too heavily weighted with differences in profile elevation serve as the proper index of equivalence in profile patterning. The findings in the Humphrey and Dahlstrom (1995) article were based on appropriate data-analytic procedures because the primary concern is their investigation was the extent to which the patterns of T-score profiles from the original MMPI and the MMPI-2 are comparable when the raw-score patterns are virtually identical.     

Unilateral brain lesions and MMPI performance: a preliminary study.

Samples of 15 Ss with right- and 20 Ss with left-hemisphere brain lesions secondary to war-related penetrating missile wounds were matched for age, education, and recency of injury and evaluated with the MMPI. Right-hemisphere lesioned Ss produced a composite profile with all scales within normal limits. In contrast, the composite profile of left-hemisphere lesioned Ss showed significant elevations on the Sc, D, and Hs clinical scales, suggesting increased psychopathological responses in such Ss. Although the general configurations of the composite MMPI profiles in the two samples were similar, significant differences in the elevation of both validity and clinical scales were obtained. The results tend to support previous findings of a depressive-catastrophic reaction in patients with lesions in the dominant hemisphere, while not supporting the euphoric-indifference response in nondominant-hemisphere lesioned Ss.     

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.     

Specificity of MMPI cluster types to chronic illness

Abstract

Cluster analysis derived MMPI profile types were compared for three distinct illness populations: chronic low back pain (CLBP), mixed headache (HA), and cardiac disease (CD). Results replicated previous findings in the chronic pain and cardiac literatures. Differences between diagnostic groups and genders were found for the prevalence of the derived MMPI profile types. Results indicated that, in males, the two chronic pain groups had similar profile types and similar relative frequencies of these types, but both differed from the CD sample. The chronic pain groups tended to have a greater number of patients with pathological and distressed MMPI profile types and a lesser representation in the subclinical profile type compared to the CD sample. Similar findings were obtained for females, though the CLBP group tended to have a higher frequency of highly distressed, pathological profiles than either the HA or CD groups. Results suggested that the MMPI may be a measure of response to illness rather than reflecting predisposing personality types for any given illness and that the higher frequency of highly distressed profiles in the chronic pain samples reflects the increased suffering of those populations compared to other illnesses.     

Personality organization as an aspect of back pain in a medical setting.

The MMPI profiles of 74 low back pain patients who had previously been classified as "functional,"organic," or "mixed" were sorted into six profile groups. The six profile groups were those used by Pichot, Perse, Lekous, Dureau, Perez, and Rychewaert (1972); denial, "conversion V" without defensiveness, "conversion V" with defensiveness, depressed/anxious, psychotic and normal. Results indicate that all six profile types are well represented in the low back pain group. Evidence is also presented which shows that each of the pathological MMPI profile types examined across "functional," "organic," and "mixed" classification is significantly more elevated than a normal profile group on two scales (Lb, DOR) designed to measure functional aspects of pain. Pathological MMPI profile groups did not differ significantly from each other on the "functional" pain scales. The data presented in this study point to the relationship of various forms of psychopathology with "functional pain." The findings of this study would not support a homogeneous "pain personality" for low back pain patients. However, combined "conversion V" profiles accounted for 58% of the "functional" group, 45% of the "mixed" group and 35% of the "organic" group.     

Development and Validation of a Dutch Translation of the Big Five Inventory (BFI)

The MMPI profiles of 74 low back pain patients who had previously been classified as "functional," "organic," or "mixed" were sorted into six profile groups. The six profile groups were those used by Pichot, Perse, Lekeous, Dureau, Perez, and Rychewaert (1972); denial, "conversion V" without defensiveness, "conversion V" with defensiveness, depressed/anxious, psychotic and normal. Results indicate that all six profile types are welt represented in the low back pain group. Evidence is also presented which shows that each of the pathological MMPI profile types examined across "functional," "organic," and "mixed" classification is significantly more elevated than a normal profile group on two scales (Lb, DOR) designed to measure functional aspects of pain. Pathological MMPI profile groups did not differ significantly from each other on the "functional," pain scales. The data presented in this study point to the relationship of various forms of psychopathology with "functional pain." The findings of this stud v would not support a homogeneous "pain personality" for low back pain patients. However, combined "conversion V" profiles accounted for 58% of the "functional" group, 45% of the "mixed" group and 35% of the "organic" group.     

Comparison of three abbreviated MMPIs for psychiatric patients and normals.

Two studies, one using 242 psychiatric patients and the other 120 normal college students, were conducted to evaluate the predictive potential of three abbreviated MMPIs namely the Midi-Mult, Hugo abbreviated MMPI and Faschingbauer abbreviated MMPI. With regard to psychiatric inpatients, the Faschingbauer abbreviated MMPI-scale group means were markedly similar, highly correlated, and seemed to be a fairly accurate substitute for the MMPI in predicting clinical types. Numerous deficiencies were evident when using the Midi-Mult or Hugo abbreviated MMPI, especially with regard to classification analysis concerning validity, mean raw score scale differences and high point codes. In contrast, results from a normal college sample showed close statistical correspondence, high comparability in identifying valid and invalid profiles as well as high correspondence with respect to high point codes and general profile elevations regardless of which abbreviated form was used.     

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-derived psychopathology subtypes among former prisoners of war (POWs): Replication and extension

Psychopathology and symptom patterns identified among former prisoners of war (POWs) by Sutker, Winstead, Goist, Malow, and Allain (1986) were replicated in an independent sample of 51 former POWs with similar personal backgrounds and military experiences. Data collection instruments included the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), self-report measures of anxiety and depression, and a structured clinical interview including a POW Trauma Index. Two prototypic MMPI profile patterns were identified using modal profile analysis (Skinner & Lei, 1980). Both were highly similar in shape and elevation to those reported in the previous investigation. Multiprofile-multisample analysis produced prototypic profile patterns which were accurate representations of profiles identified in separate analyses of the derivation and replication samples (r's .96). Representing unique constellations of clinical features, profile subtypes were associated differentially with confinement stress severity, postservice adjustment, and nature and extent of stress-induced symptomatology.     

Subtle-Obvious Scales of the MMPI: Indicators of Profile Validity in a Psychiatric Population

This study explored the usefulness of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Subtle-Obvious scales as profile validity indicators with a inpatient psychiatric population. Some 292 MMPI profiles were utilized and divided into overreporters, underreporters, and standard reporters, based on their Subtle-Obvious scale scores. Reporting style was shown to be unrelated to actual patient pathology because of the lack of relationship between reporting style and diagnostic categorization according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-III-R]; American Psychiatric Association, I987) Axis I and II. Comparisons of MMPI profiles of the three groups revealed that overreporters endorsed more pathology on the MMPI clinical scales than did either underreporters or standard reporters. The same pattern of response style was demonstrated by subjects on another objective measure, the Beck Depression Inventory, whereas on a projective measure, the Rorschach Inkblot Test, there were no differences between groups. These findings suggest that clinicians may want to utilize the Subtle-Obvious scales to gain information about MMPI profile validity. Specifically, profiles of patients identified as overreporters should be interpreted with caution so as to not overstate their level of pathology.     

Subtle-obvious scales of the MMPI: indicators of profile validity in a psychiatric population.

This study explored the usefulness of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Subtle-Obvious scales as profile validity indicators with a inpatient psychiatric population. Some 292 MMPI profiles were utilized and divided into overreporters, underreporters, and standard reporters, based on their Subtle-Obvious scale scores. Reporting style was shown to be unrelated to actual patient pathology because of the lack of relationship between reporting style and diagnostic categorization according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3rd ed., rev. [DSM-III-R]; American Psychiatric Association, 1987) Axis I and II. Comparisons of MMPI profiles of the three groups revealed that overreporters endorsed more pathology on the MMPI clinical scales than did either underreporters or standard reporters. The same pattern of response style was demonstrated by subjects on another objective measure, the Beck Depression Inventory, whereas on a projective measure, the Rorschach Inkblot Test, there were no differences between groups. These findings suggest that clinicians may want to utilize the Subtle-Obvious scales to gain information about MMPI profile validity. Specifically, profiles of patients identified as overreporters should be interpreted with caution so as to not overstate their level of pathology.     

The Influence of Elevated F Scales on the Validity of Adolescent MMPI Profiles

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPI) of adolescent outpatients were examined to determine whether characteristically elevated F scales indicated an exaggeration of psychopathology. A treatment condition designed to reduce the motivation to exaggerate psychopathology did not lower scores of the F and F-K indices when subjects were administered a second MMPI. Similarly, actuarial interpretations for the second protocols were not more frequently selected by therapists as more valid, regardless of treatment condition and elevation of the F and F-K indices on the first MMPI profile. Elevations of Scales F, Pd4, and Sc8 characterized the adolescent MMPI profiles.     

The influence of elevated F scales on the validity of adolescent MMPI profiles

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPI) of adolescent outpatients were examined to determine whether characteristically elevated F scales indicated an exaggeration of psychopathology. A treatment condition designed to reduce the motivation to exaggerate psychopathology did not lower scores of the F and F-K indices when subjects were administered a second MMPI. Similarly, actuarial interpretations for the second protocols were not more frequently selected by therapists as more valid, regardless of treatment condition and elevation of the F and F-K indices on the first MMPI profile. Elevations of Scales F, Pd/4, and Sc/8 characterized the adolescent MMPI profiles.     

Type A Personality,Self-Control,and Vulnerability to Stress

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A; Butcher et al., 1992) was released in 1992 and has rapidly become the most widely used objective personality assessment instrument with adolescents. Although the MMPI-A reduced or eliminated several problems associated with the use of the original MMPI (Hathaway &; McKinley, 1943) with adolescents, the MMPI-A does produce a high frequency of within normal limits basic scale profiles for individuals with substantial psychopathology including adolescents in inpatient psychiatric settings. To better understand the reasons for this phenomenon, we compared the item endorsement frequencies for the MMPI-A normative sample with results from two adolescent clinical samples, and these results were contrasted to the item endorsement frequencies for the MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, &; Kaemmer, 1989) normative sample and a clinical sample of adult psychiatric inpatients. Results showed that the MMPI-A contains a substantial number of items that do not show a significant difference in item endorsement frequency between normative and clinical samples. Furthermore, MMPI-A basic and content scales generally show a much lower percentage of effective items than do the corresponding scales for the MMPI-2. We discuss the findings in relation to the frequent occurrence of low range MMPI-A profiles in clinical samples and the potential usefulness of these results in future efforts to develop viable short forms for the MMPI-A.     

Current status of MMPI-2 research: a methodologic overview

MMPI-2 research since 1990 has been reviewed to assess whether Butcher and Tellegen's (1978) concerns and suggestions about MMPI research were being followed. Guidelines are provided for when the MMPI-2 is appropriate to administer, how to describe the sample used, assessing validity of the profile, what scores to analyze, and how to report the results. Suggestions also are presented for research within several current areas of debate in the MMPI-2: codetype comparability between the MMPI and MMPI-2, incremental validity of new or existing scales, obvious and subtle subscales, emphasis on item content, development of new scales, and correcting profiles for specific medical and physical conditions.     

MMPI configural interpretation as applied to posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans

This study investigated the systems of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) configural interpretation of Skinner and Jackson (1978) and Kunce (1979) with Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MMPI profiles of four groups differing in combat exposure were compared on four MMPI configural variables from Kunce (1979) and Skinner and Jackson (1978). The four groups were (a) PTSD sufferers, (b) Vietnam combat veterans without PTSD, (c) Vietnam noncombat veterans, and (d) Vietnam era veterans. All groups were further divided into hospitalized versus nonhospitalized subgroups. Dependent variables were Skinner and Jackson's (a) sociopathic modal profile, (b) neurotic profile, (c) psychotic profile, and (d) Kunce's emotional expression (enthusiastic-reserved) dimension. Results indicated that hospitalized PTSD subjects had significantly higher scores on Skinner and Jackson's neurotic profile; both hospitalized and nonhospitalized PTSD subjects had higher scores on the psychotic profile and were more "reserved" on Kunce's emotional expression dimension. Results were interpreted in terms of configural MMPI interpretation systems and the adjustment of Vietnam veterans with PTSD. PTSD was viewed as exhibiting cognitive, somatic, and affective features.