MMPI differentiation of panic disorder patients from other psychiatric outpatients.

A variety of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) techniques were used to determine differences in psychopathology between 60 outpatient panic disorder patients (PDPs) and 60 demographically matched psychiatric controls (PCs). PDPs showed less psychopathology than PCs on the clinical scales. PDPs had more neurotic code-type profiles, and PCs had more characterological profiles. An empirically constructed panic disorder (Pan) scale correctly classified 72% of PDPs and PCs in the cross-validation sample and 83% of the combined samples, suggesting potential clinical utility and the need for further validation. There were significant differences between PDPs with or without agoraphobia on the clinical scales or Pan scale. The Pan scale successfully differentiated PDPs from a small sample of PCs diagnosed with nonpanic anxiety disorders. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of MMPI scores of Anglo- and Mexican-American psychiatric patients.

Reports MMPI profiles of 40 bilingual Mexican-American and 109 Anglo-American psychiatric patients. There were controls for the major variables of age, sex, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and presenting problem. With K -corrected T scores, Mexican-American Ss scored higher on the L and K scales and significantly lower on the Pd, Pt, and Ma scales. Anglo-American males scored higher than Mexican-American males on the Mf scale. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Conflict resolution among field-independent and field-dependent Anglo-American and Mexican-American children and their mothers.

32 Anglo-American and Mexican-American boys and girls selected for their extreme field independence or dependence (Man-in-the Frame box, adapted from the rod-and-frame test) interacted with their mothers in 3 role plays designed to provoke conflict over issues of maternal authority and children's independence. The mother–child interactions were recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed. Anglo-American children more often than Mexican-American children entered and persisted in direct conflict with their mothers as indicated by a number of variables such as disagreement and justification of their own will. There was some tendency for Mexican-American mothers to ask fewer questions and to assert their own will more than Anglo-American mothers. Field independence among boys, but field dependence among girls, was associated with more assertive behaviors. Mothers of field-independent children used a somewhat more elaborate verbal code. The study supports hypothesized cultural differences in mother–child interaction patterns, but fails to support the presumed socialization antecedents of field dependence and the cross-sex generality of its correlates. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Problem solving in triads composed of varying numbers of field-dependent and field-independent subjects.

Investigated the interactive effects of situational task demands and interpersonal group environment on small group performance. High-structure and low-structure tasks were solved by 3 types of small groups: 3 field-dependent Ss; 3 field-independent Ss; and triads with both field-dependent and field-independent Ss. Ss were 231 male college students who were tested with the Group Embedded Figures Test. The lower and upper third of the test distribution were defined as field dependent and field independent, respectively, and assigned to 1 of the 3 small groups. It was hypothesized that field-dependent Ss would perform tasks more efficiently than would field-independent Ss when the task environment provided structure. This hypothesis was not supported. The field-independent Ss had the fastest completion times, whereas the field-dependent Ss had the slowest times of all. It was also hypothesized that the difference in performance attributable to task structure would be greater for field-dependent Ss than it would be for field-independent Ss. This hypothesis was supported. Results demonstrate the relative ability of field-independent Ss to solve the tasks and the potential for coalition formation within the mixed triads. (40 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of the field-dependent and field-independent cognitive styles in academic evolution: A longitudinal study.

To assess hypotheses derived from field-dependence theory about the role of cognitive styles in students' academic development, a group of 1,548 students was followed longitudinally from college entry into graduate/professional school. The Group Embedded Figures Test was administered at college entry. 1,422 Ss were followed through their college careers, and 831 Ss were identified as having applied to graduate or professional school and 550 as having enrolled. In their preliminary choices at college entry, final college majors and graduate/professional school specialties, relatively field-independent students favored impersonal domains requiring cognitive restructuring skills (e.g., sciences) and relatively field-dependent students favored interpersonal domains which do not emphasize such skills (e.g., elementary education). Ss whose college-entry choices were incongruent with their cognitive styles tended to shift to more compatible domains by college graduation or graduate school; Ss with congruent choices tended to remain with their choices. Some tendency was found for students to do better in domains compatible with their cognitive styles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Driver behavior and scores on the MMPI.

Are auto accidents related to driver personality? Using a paper and pencil personality inventory (MMPI), the driver behavior and MMPI scores of 993 college students were compared. Some slight relationship was found. "Knowledge of the kind of personality organization and motivation of a driver may be useful for purposes of both licensing and training drivers." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of teaching approaches on achievement and satisfaction of field-dependent and field-independent learners in animal science

A senior-level university swine management class of 42 students consisted of three laboratory sections (containing 22, 12, and 8 students). A counterbalanced design was used to evaluate three teaching approaches (field-dependent, field-independent, and combination); each weekly laboratory section received each teaching approach for 3 wk. All students were evaluated and categorized as field-dependent or field-independent learners before the study. All students were evaluated for achievement and satisfaction at the end of each laboratory period. Teaching approach x learning style x laboratory section was not significant for achievement or satisfaction. Teaching approach x laboratory section was significant for achievement (P = .01) and satisfaction (P = .01). Teaching approach x learning style was not significant for achievement (P = . 15) or satisfaction (P = .15). Field-independent learners scored 6% higher on achievement tests when taught with a field-dependent approach rather than a field-independent approach. Field-dependent learners scored 21.9% higher when taught with a combination approach rather than a field-dependent approach and 13.8% higher than when taught with a field-independent approach. Overall student satisfaction was positive (3.50 on a 5-point scale). Field-independent learners were most satisfied with a combination approach; however, field-dependent learners preferred a field-dependent approach. Teaching approach was significant (P = .03) for achievement with the combination approach and resulted in higher scores (8.7 to 9.7%). Teaching approach was not significant for satisfaction (P = .61). Overall, a combination of teaching methods, tailored to both field-dependent and field-independent students, was most effective. Matching instruction to student learning style is not necessary. The study represents an example of using animal science students and faculty in research to improve animal science instruction and heighten awareness of teaching methods.     

Stability of MMPI configurations for psychiatric inpatients.

Investigated the stability of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) code types. Ss were 405 psychiatric patients (mean age 37 yrs) who had completed 2 valid MMPIs and some of whom had been rated twice on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Test–retest agreements for high-point, low-point, and 2-point codes were 42.72%, 43.95%, and 27.65%, respectively. Code types were somewhat more stable when scales in the codes had more extreme scores initially and when scores on the scales in the codes were considerably different from other scales in the profile. When MMPIs were classified as neurotic, psychotic, or characterological according to 2-point codes, many of the 2-point codes that changed from test to retest remained within the same diagnostic categories. For a subsample of 72 Ss, behavioral ratings of psychosis were compared with stability and change in 2-point code types. Results suggest that at least some changes in code types over time may be associated with meaningful behavioral changes. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Uniform versus linear T scores on the MMPI2/MMPI in an outpatient psychiatric sample: Differential contributions.

Hypothesized that the uniform T-score procedure was one possible source of observed differences between the MMPI-2 T scores and the MMPI T scores. MMPI-2 linear T scores were computed for a sample of 200 psychiatric outpatients (mean age 38.1 yrs) whose MMPI-2 and MMPI T scores had been determined at the same point in time. Differences created by the uniform technique were slight and did not exceed 1.2 T-score points. Contrary to hypothesis, the uniform T-score procedure reduced the differences between mean MMPI-2 T-scores and the MMPI T scores on 12 of the 16 scales. These data suggest that the differences between the MMPI and MMPI-2 T scores are mainly due to differences between the normative samples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age, intelligence, and MMPI F scores.

This study was designed to determine the effects of age, intelligence, and other variables on the F scale, which is critical for Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) interpretation and research. Data consisted of MMPIs and Wechslers obtained from 407 white hospitalized psychiatric patients over a 7-year period. No significant sex differences on MMPI F scores were found. The major result was that F scores decrease with increasing age for low- and high-IQ subjects, but remain relatively constant for average-IQ subjects. Neither diagnosis nor educational level was found to affect F scores. The use of unrestricted distributions of age, intelligence, and F scores may account for the fact that these findings are not consistent with those reported by previous investigators. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prediction of mean scores on MMPI scales.

The accuracy of an equation for predicting raw score means on personality scales, based upon social desirability consideration, was tested using 57 MMPI scales. It was found that 25% of the predicted means were in error by less than 1 point, 51% by 2 points or less, and 70% by 3 points or less. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of teacher awareness of the educational implications of field-dependent/field-independent cognitive style on selected classroom variables.

The cognitive styles of 296 5th graders and their teachers in 3 schools were assessed. Teachers in 2 of the schools then attended a workshop in which they were made aware of educational implications of the field-dependent/independent cognitive styles. Measures of self-concept and attitude toward school (e.g., Self Appraisal Inventory, School Sentiment Index) were administered prior to the workshop and at the conclusion of the experiment to pupils in the 3 schools. ANOVAs indicated significantly higher posttest scores on both measures in the 2 experimental schools. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting hospitalization of psychiatric outpatients.

"This study constitutes an attempt to devise simple, widely applicable, and maximally precise indices to aid in predicting hospitalization of psychiatric outpatients, as well as to formulate a partial operational definition of the concept, 'latent psychiatric illness'… . Three forms of index were derived, one consisting only of nonpsychometric variables, one consisting only of MMPI signs, and one comprising both nontest and MMPI factors." 24 references. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Education and MMPI Mf scores in homosexual and heterosexual males.

Investigated the relationship between MMPI Mf, Hsx, and education in 64 heterosexual and 49 homosexual men. Ss were obtained from a variety of sources, were generally older than college students, and averaged between 2 and 3 yr. of college education. The groups differed significantly on Mf, Hsx, and Kinsey self-ratings. MMPI scale differences were found on F, K, D, Pd, Pa, Pt, Sc, and Si. Correlations of .20 and .27 were found between education and the Mf and Hsx scores. Data indicate that Mf was a better discriminator between the homosexual and heterosexual groups than Hsx, and was less contaminated by educational bias. It is concluded that the relationship between educational level and Mf appears to be more complex than generally assumed. (23 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Set and content scores for personality scales and response styles in the MMPI.

Set and content scores from 3 MMPI scales, Edwards SD scale, the Manifest Anxiety scale (MA), and the Masculinity-Femininity (Mf) scale, were derived by an adaptation of the Helmstadter technique for obtaining separate (acquiescence) set and content scores from personality scales. In a factor analysis of scores for 150 male college Ss on 54 variables, the MA-Set and SD-Set variables defined a common factor, but only the Mf-Set variable loaded the 2nd, or acquiescence, factor. The inconsistency of these results indicated that the set formula was not consistently measuring, or reflecting, acquiescence, or any other construct, and furthermore suggested the need for caution in making acquiescence interpretations based on the Helmstadter procedure. Some speculations were advanced to account for the disparate results of the set variables, such as the degree of true-false and SD-SUD keying in the "parent" scales. A systematic variation of such scale keying in future research may indicate what the set procedure is measuring and have potential implications for the clarification of the nature of acquiescence in personality scales. (34 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A planning group for psychiatric outpatients

Planning leisure time successfully can contribute to a patient's ability to function in the spheres of work and family as well. A leisure-time planning group for psychiatric out-patients is described in this article and includes the treatment principles upon which the group is based, the format of the sessions, and the goal-setting techniques employed. A concrete, highly structured, and self-actualizing approach was used to help patients discover and develop their interests. Members often encountered similar problems in their attempts to plan leisure time despite their varied backgrounds and skills in planning, which led to the use of specific approaches in dealing with these common problems, and also suggested a wider application for the Planning Group.     

Dimensions of control: Correlations between MMPI and I-E scores.

Administered Rotter's Internal versus External Locus of Control (I-E) scale and the MMPI to 25 volunteer members of a suburban rescue squad. I-E scores correlated with 3 MMPI scales: negatively with the K and Hy scales and positively with the F scale. A comparison of these relationships with those found in a sample of alcoholics is made. It is suggested that the correlations observed indicate "that a sense of control over external events is related to self-control and competence in handling internal events." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of MMPI scores of White and Japanese-American medical patients.

Compared the MMPI scores of 164 patients (mean age 40.3 yrs) classified by sex, diagnostic group (somatization disorder or organic brain syndrome), and race (White or Japanese-American). MANOVA revealed effects for sex and diagnostic group, as well as a sex by race interaction. Male Ss scored significantly higher than females on 9 clinical scales; thus, factors other than race (e.g., sex) appear to be critical in the interpretation of MMPI scores. Implications for the use of the MMPI with non-White patients are discussed. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)