MMPI correlates of drug addiction based on drug of choice.

Previous MMPI research has focused on addict differences based on substance abused and has largely failed to detect differences using standard univariate methods. The current study, conducted with 48 male and 17 female addicts involuntarily committed to a treatment program, used multivariate analysis to detect differences among groups based on drug of choice (amphetamines, barbiturates, or heroin). Ss' composite MMPI profile revealed elements of distress, confusion, and depression as well as sociopathy. Multiple discriminant analysis successfully generated 2 orthogonal functions that accounted for virtually all of the variance between groups. The loadings of each function were analyzed in terms of the behavioral components characterizing each group. The implications for differential treatment strategies and for theories of personality etiology among drug abusers are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Normal and psychopathological personality characteristics of individuals in alcohol rehabilitation.

Relations between normal and psychopathological personality characteristics were investigated in 72 inpatient male alcoholics, who were administered the Personal Styles Inventory (PSI) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Results support the PSI circumplex model for normal personality traits. All PSI scales correlated significantly with one or more MMPI scales, including the basic MMPI orthogonal factors Anxiety (r?=?.55) and Repression (r?=?-.47), showing a relation between normal and pathological personality attributes. The mean MMPI profiles for subjects categorized by normal (PSI) personality traits corresponded significantly to basic MMPI profile types identified in previous research. Implications for counseling alcoholics and developing treatment programs using information from a broader based personality assessment approach are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Common methodological problems in MMPI research.

Indicates that research with the MMPI continues at a high rate and suggests that too many articles submitted and even accepted for publication are methodologically weak. This article discusses some common methodological problems involving the use of the MMPI that were encountered in the course of reviewing articles submitted for publication. These problems involve the use of the MMPI as an all-purpose measure sensitive to "normal range" personality attributes, scale proliferation, limited-validity short forms, errors in assessing profile change, and erroneous interpretations of group data. Some suggestions for improving research designs are made. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Drug abuse patterns, personality characteristics, and relationships with sex, race, and sensation seeking.

Examined interrelationships among sex, race, drug use patterns, and personality variables in 84 chronic users of illicit drugs (mean age 24.3 yrs). Ss were administered the MMPI, the Sensation Seeking Scale, and the Shipley-Institute of Living Scale for Measuring Intellectual Impairment and were interviewed using the Background Information Questionnaire. Comparisons were made between sex and ethnic subgroups on personality and drug use variables using analysis of covariance and chi-square procedures for Ss classified into high-, medium-, and low-sensation-seeking groups. Blacks were characterized by lower levels of sensation seeking, less psychopathology, use of fewer drug categories, and later drug use than Whites. Use and personality patterns among women differed little from those of men. Levels of sensation seeking were related to specific personality constellations, number of drug categories used, and motive for first alcohol use. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality differences of volunteer and nonvolunteer heroin and nonheroin drug users.

Assessed effects of volunteering on investigations of drug abuse. MMPI profiles of 4 matched groups of 34 Ss each entering a drug-treatment program were compared: (a) heroin-using volunteers, (b) nonheroin drug-taking volunteers, (c) heroin-using nonvolunteers, and (d) nonheroin drug-taking nonvolunteers. All Ss were male, White, and 24 yrs of age. Volunteering heroin users and nonheroin drug users evidenced heightened disturbance in all aspects of adjustment as compared with heroin and nonheroin drug-using nonvolunteers. Control of voluntarism minimized differences between volunteer heroin users and nonheroin users but not between nonvolunteer heroin users and nonheroin drug users. Results do not support interpretations that predisposing personality features contribute to compulsive drug use. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethnicity and MMPI performance: A review.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) performance as a function of ethnic group membership was reviewed in Asian Americans, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans. There did not appear to be a simple relation between ethnic group membership and MMPI performance, either within or between such populations as normal individuals, psychiatric patients, prisoners, or substance abuse patients. Moderator variables, such as social class, education, and type of setting, seem to play an important role in determining the specific pattern of scores that are found. There is a paucity of studies that have investigated whether there are any empirical correlates of the obtained differences when two ethnic groups are compared on the MMPI, that is, investigations of the external validity of the MMPI in various ethnic groups. It seems premature to conclude that new norms for the MMPI are needed for specific ethnic groups without additional research that examines the issues raised in this review. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Four addictions: the MMPI and discriminant function analysis

Over the past twenty years many MMPI studies of substance abuse have investigated the complex relationship between personality profile and drug of choice. This work has repeatedly established that alcoholics, heroin, cocaine and polydrug addicts share 4-2/2-4 (Psychopathy and Depression) or 4-8/8-4 (Psychopathy and Thought Disorder) MMPI profiles, but that the substance abuse populations differ in the plane of severity in that general profile. The alcoholics occupy the least disturbed sector, the polydrug abusers the most disturbed level and the heroin and cocaine addicts positions of moderate disturbance. The vast majority of studies, however, cite only group means to buttress their conclusions. Our work probed more deeply into the data using Discriminant Function Analysis. With this methodology we discovered important differences between the groups, previously hidden, which may carry differential treatment implications.     

Cross-sectional and longitudinal comparisons of bipolar and unipolar depressed groups on the MMPI.

Compared MMPI admission and remission profiles in 34 patients (17 bipolar and 17 unipolar) hospitalized for depression. There were no significant demographic differences or difference in behaviorally rated depression between the bipolar and unipolar groups. Relatively normal profiles for the bipolar group and abnormal profiles for the unipolar group significantly differentiated the 2 groups at admission, but, with 1 exception, the differences dissipated at recovery. Thus, greater changes over time were found in the self-reported personality characteristics of unipolar Ss than in bipolar Ss. After recovery from the depressive episode, there was a significant shift within unipolar Ss from withdrawal and lack of interest in others to a greater concern for socially approved behavior. The implications of change in the unipolar group and stability in the bipolar group and the more enduring personality characteristics of the 2 groups are discussed. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relationship between voice-quality profiles and MMPI profiles in psychiatric patients.

Examined the personality traits of speakers with different voice-quality profiles. Speech samples and MMPI scores were obtained from 78 male psychiatric patients. The speech samples were rated for the voice qualities of pitch, loudness, and tempo. Each S was assigned to 1 of 3 voice-quality profile groups: peak-pitch (N = 29), peak-loudness (N = 27), and peak-tempo (N = 22). An analysis of variance indicated a significant difference between the mean MMPI profiles of the 3 groups and supported the hypothesis that the 3 voice-quality profile groups represent 3 different personality types. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The violent 4-3 MMPI personality type.

Attempted to replicate and extend the study of K. R. Davis and J. O. Sines (see PA, Vol. 46:Issue 2) which found the MMPI high point pattern of 4-3 to be associated with commission of violent acts. 48 4-3 male inmates were compared with the 3 most frequently occurring other MMPI code types in a prison and with the institutional base rate for commission of violent criminal offenses. 4-3 Ss committed significantly more violent acts than any of the other personality groups and significantly more violence than the base rates of inmates in general. The other 3 personality groups did not differ from the base rate. Of the 4-3 Ss, 85% had a history of violence. Personality variables, e.g., guilt and anxiety, and race of the offender, are discussed. (24 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ego control and criminal behavior.

Contends that the personality assessment literature using deviant and antisocial S populations contains an interesting anomaly—that persons representing major criminal offense categories can be only weakly distinguished from one another by using standard scales of the best conventional inventories (e.g., the MMPI and the California Psychological Inventory). This may reflect the fact that existing inventories are designed principally to predict maladjustment or social competence, and most criminal groups tested are found to be equally maladjusted and socially immature. The construct of ego control is not strongly related to adjustment or competence, but rather appears to underlie preference for different life-styles and occupations. The present article demonstrates the ability of ego control to distinguish between the offense categories of murder and drug related crimes. A sample of 59 murderers (20–50 yrs) was found to score significantly higher than a group of 56 drug offenders (19–29 yrs) on a rudimentary measure of ego control. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Inability to predict cardiovascular disease from hostility scores or MMPI items related to Type A behavior.

[Correction Notice: An erratum for this article was reported in Vol 58(5) of Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (see record 2008-10621-001). In the article, the mean Ho scores are incorrect and some reported information is no longer relevant. The entries have been corrected and are included in the erratum. All other analyses and all conclusions are correct as reported.] Medical and psychological data collected for 30 years on a group of 280 men (mean age in 1947&=&45 years) were evaluated to identify the personality characteristics and attitudes that might be predictive of the later development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Hostility scores did not predict CHD in this population. A 35-item scale derived from MMPI items judged to reflect the Type A construct and from other personality scales did not predict the later incidence of myocardial infarctions or other evidence of CHD. It is therefore possible that personality factors may not be strong predictors of CHD in particular samples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality characteristics of heroin addicts: A response to Gendreau and Gendreau.

Demonstrating the effect of the volunteer factor on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles of addicts and nonaddicts, P. Gendreau and L. F. Gendreau (see record 1974-05403-001) suggested that previously reported MMPI differences between these 2 subject groups might well be explained by the "volunteer" status of the addict group. The present article describes more thoroughly the unincarcerated addict sample, almost half of whom were compulsory candidates for treatment, and presents data from previous studies by P. B. Sutker and A. N. Allain (1973, 1974) to show that volunteer and nonvolunteer applicants were more similar than different on MMPI indices. Results of a follow-up investigation, however, point to the role of situational factors in elevating MMPI profiles of 82 unincarcerated addicts who, addicted to heroin and involved in the cycle of street activities at the time of testing, differed significantly from prisoner groups of 35 addicts and 87 nonaddicts on several important dimensions. Similarly, certain MMPI indices, particularly Scale 4, were found to be relatively stable over time and conditions, reflecting perhaps a basic dispositional pattern or constellation of personality traits. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An MMPI comparison of polydrug and heroin abusers.

Researchers recently have resurrected the relevance of the addiction-prone personality hypothesis for explaining drug abuse by faulting previous studies for failing to control non-drug-related S background characteristics. This notion was tested by comparing MMPI clinical and content scores of 122 polydrug and 132 heroin abusers under conditions in which covariates were controlled and not controlled. The covariates age, education, socioeconomic status, and admission status interacted significantly but did not change results. Polydrug abusers consistently scored higher than heroin users on clinical scales, but differences for multivariate ANOVAs and analyses of covariance were either not significant or not large enough to be clinically meaningful. The variety of personality types found for both heroin and polydrug abusers is interpreted as refuting the notion that one personality type is addiction-prone. Contributions of personality to drug abuse remain suspected but as yet unspecified. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Inability to predict cardiovascular disease from hostility scores or MMPI items related to Type A behavior": Correction to Leon et al.

Reports an error in "Inability to predict cardiovascular disease from hostility scores or MMPI items related to Type A behavior" by Gloria R. Leon, Stephen E. Finn, David Murray and John M. Bailey (Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 1988[Aug], Vol 56[4], 597-600). In the aforementioned article, the mean Ho scores are incorrect. For Group 1, M = 16.0 (SD = 7.3); Group 2, M = 15.3 (SD = 6.7); Group 3, M = 15.2 (SD = 7.2). Page 600, paragraph 2 is no longer relevant. All other analyses and all conclusions are correct as reported. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 1989-05707-001.) Medical and psychological data collected for 30 years on a group of 280 men (mean age in 1947=45 years) were evaluated to identify the personality characteristics and attitudes that might be predictive of the later development of coronary heart disease (CHD). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Hostility scores did not predict CHD in this population. A 35-item scale derived from MMPI items judged to reflect the Type A construct and from other personality scales did not predict the later incidence of myocardial infarctions or other evidence of CHD. It is therefore possible that personality factors may not be strong predictors of CHD in particular samples. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Manifest aggression: MMPI correlates in normal boys.

An investigation of MMPI personality characteristics of adolescent boys was conducted. Teacher and peer ratings were used to form 4 groups of Ss who differed on degree of expressed aggression. Aggression groups consisted of High Aggression (N = 21), High Middle Aggression (N = 20), Low Middle Aggression (N = 20), and Low Aggression (N = 22). Ss were group-administered an audio form of the MMPI. High-Aggression boys (although not actually delinquent) were found to be similar to delinquent boys in personality—generally rebellious, schizoid, and excitable. However, they were different in that they appeared more concerned over the effects of their behavior. Low-Aggression boys appeared more disturbed than Middle-Aggression boys and similar to High-Aggression boys in being more schizoid. However, they appeared more neurotic, withdrawn, and socially inhibited than other boys. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The "addiction-prone" personality: A study of Canadian heroin addicts.

Reviews evidence supporting the "addiction-prone" personality theory of narcotic addiction. A nonaddict control sample (N = 82) was selected that incorporated several parameters found to be lacking in previous studies comparing addicts and nonaddicts. Results on the MMPI of the nonaddict sample were compared to those of an addict group (N = 51). Contrary to the "addiction-prone" theory, results of the addict and nonaddict groups were not reliably different. Results are discussed in terms of the "addiction-prone" theory, and an alternative theory is suggested. (French summary) (28 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Dimensions, patterns, and personality correlates of drug abuse in an offender population.

Factor analyzed 12 drug abuse scores obtained from each of 215 prisoners resulting in 2 factors describing the lifetime degree of use of cannabis vs opiate types of drugs. Multiple discriminant analysis of MMPI profiles vs drug abuse patterns indicated a moderate, unidimensional relationship between these 2 sets of variables. The MMPI profiles of both groups of opiate users were configurally similar to, though less highly elevated than, those identified in previous research with narcotic addicts, suggesting certain differences between the present sample and drug abuse cases encountered in other settings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI scores for field-dependent and field-independent psychiatric outpatients.

Investigated the relationship of field dependency to personality traits and styles of psychopathological adjustment. 3 shortcomings of previous research were avoided by using a larger sample (N = 414), a nonprojective measure of personality, and a clinical population. Validity scales, clinical scales, and 13 experimental Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales were compared for field-dependent and field-independent psychiatric outpatients. Separate analyses were made for males and females. As predicted, field-dependent males scored higher on social desirability and acquiescence but lower on social introversion. Field-dependent females scored higher on hysteria, repression, and hypochondriasis but lower on ego strength and control. Overall results partially support the proposed relationship of field dependency to personality traits and modes of psychopathological adjustment. The sex of the S is an important variable in predicting specific relationships. Correlational data indicate that the strength of the relationship between field dependency and MMPI scales should not be overestimated. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Short forms of the MMPI with back pain patients.

Compared the Faschingbauer Abbreviated MMPI (FAM) and the Midi-Mult on a sample of 176 back pain outpatients. Correlations with the standard MMPI scales ranged from .67 to .93 on the FAM and from .71 to .89 on the Midi-Mult. The FAM showed higher agreement with MMPI code types than did the Midi-Mult. The 3 versions were compared to independent physician ratings of amount of functional component to patients' pain, and all 3 forms discriminated between "functional" and "organic" patient groups. Results provide tentative evidence that abbreviated MMPIs are useful measures of personality in this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)