Comparing the empirical validity of the standard form with two abbreviated MMPIs.

The standard form MMPI and 2 abbreviated forms, the MMPI-168 and the Faschingbauer Abbreviated MMPI (FAM), were compared with direct measures of psychopathology obtained from the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) with 290 17–65 yr old psychiatric inpatients. Each S was interviewed using the Mental Status Schedule by one rater, while another rater observed this initial diagnostic interview behind a 1-way mirror to assess interrater reliability. Since MMPI scales contain more than 1 interpretative factor, these scales were correlated with the means of more than 1 BPRS symptom using multiple correlation coefficients. The multiple correlation coefficients between the BPRS ratings and the corresponding MMPI and abbreviated-form scales were significantly high and comparable. Only on Pd for females did a significant difference occur, with the FAM correlation being significantly higher. These findings suggest that these abbreviated forms are an accurate substitute for the standard-form MMPI in predicing objective measures of psychopathology. (55 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)