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)     

Using the Megargee MMPI-based classification system with the MMPI-2s of female prison inmates.

This study extends Megargee's Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-based classification system to female offenders. MMPI-2s of 400 women in state and federal prisons were rescored and reconfigured to estimate their original MMPI profiles. Their MMPIs and MMPI-2s were classified according to the rules devised for the original MMPI. Next, the MMPI-2s were reclassified using new rules for classifying the MMPI-2s of male offenders. Neither approach led to satisfactory agreement between MMPI and MMPI-2. A major problem was that Scale 5 was more prominent in the women's MMPI-2 profiles than on their MMPIs. Using revised rules for classifying the original MMPIs and the MMPI-2s of female offenders, 386 of the 400 women (97%) could be classified on both versions of the MMPI, of whom 336 (87%) were classified identically. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Equivalence of the MMPI-2 with the MMPI in psychiatric patients.

Psychiatric patients were administered the MMPI, its revision (MMPI-2), or both, in a counterbalanced repeated-measures design. MMPI-2 T scores were found to be significantly lower than MMPI T scores on several of the clinical scales. S rank order on T scores and dispersion of the basic clinical scales did not differ between the tests, and measures of profile similarity indicated congruence between the 2 instruments. Among Ss who completed both the MMPI and the MMPI-2, code-type concordance was not significantly lower than stability rates of the tests. Results support the assignment of 65T as the lower boundary of clinical elevation on the MMPI-2 and the psychometric equivalence of the MMPI-2 and the MMPI with respect to mean T scores, score rankings, and measures of score distribution. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinicians' perceptions of the comparability of the MMPI and MMPI-2.

Determined whether experienced MMPI users perceive the MMPI and MMPI-2 as yielding clinically comparable results. Clinical psychologists (N?=?35) reviewed pairs of MMPI and MMPI-2 profiles derived from the same test responses and estimated that 92–96% of their diagnoses and 89–93% of their narrative interpretations would be essentially the same or only slightly different from one version of the instrument to the other, whereas only 0–3% of either their diagnoses or reports would be quite different. MMPI-2 profiles with poorly defined code types were likely to be viewed as somewhat different or quite different from the MMPI. Low-ranging MMPI-2 profiles were most apt to be poorly defined and, correspondingly, most likely to be viewed as different from the MMPI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of standard and abbreviated MMPIs in patients with head injury.

Examined the potential utility of several short-form versions of the standard Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) for patients with head injury. These included the Mini-Mult, Midi-Mult, Maxi-Mult, and the abbreviated MMPI by T. R. Faschingbauer (see record 1975-03125-001), the abbreviated MMPI by J. A. Hugo (1971), and the MMPI-168. The sample studied consisted of 95 males (mean age 27.2 yrs) and 30 females (mean age 27.5 yrs). A standard MMPI was administered at approximately 6.5 mo postinjury in both groups. Significant multivariate profile differences (based on T-scores) were found between the standard MMPI and each individual short-form. Scales on the short-forms showed generally good correlations between themselves and the standard MMPI scales, and T-score means were quite similar in most cases. However, further analysis of individual cases demonstrated relatively poorer correspondence between the standard MMPI and the short-form versions with regard to profile validity, high-point, and 2-point code type. None of the MMPI short-forms examined appeared to be a suitable alternative to the standard MMPI in patients with head injury. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Chinese MMPI profiles among neurotic patients.

The Chinese Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles of 1,112 neurotic patients were scored with the Chinese norm, the original MMPI norm, and the MMPI—2 Uniform T scores. In comparison with the Chinese normative sample, the neurotic profiles were elevated on all the clinical scales except Scale 5 (Mf). The neurotic patients also scored higher than schizophrenic patients on Scales 1 (Hs), 2 (D), 3 (Hy), 7 (Pt), 8 (Sc), and 0 (Si). The Chinese normative profiles produced typical neurotic code types of 12/21, 13/31, 23/32, and 27/72. However, the overall T score elevations of the clinical scales were much lower than those found on the American norms. Profiles based on the 3 American norms bore the characteristic peaks on Scales 2 and 8 found among Chinese samples. The authors recommend using both the Chinese and the American norms in the interpretation of the Chinese MMPI. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of MMPI short forms with psychiatric patients.

Compared the use of 2 MMPI short forms, the MMPI-168 and the Mini-Mult, with the complete MMPI using 2,721 psychiatric inpatients and 634 outpatients. Estimated Full Scale MMPI scores for both short forms showed very high relationships with actual Full Scale scores, and the degree of profile agreement for the 3 highest scales was also quite high, although comparisons of the MMPI-168 and Mini-Mult demonstrated a number of significant differences which affect profile interpretation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical limitations of three Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory short forms.

Compared 3 MMPI short forms, the Mini-Mult, T. Faschingbauer's 166, and the MMPI-168, which were constructed by different methodologies, using 1,028 male psychiatric patients as Ss. Although the short- to standard-form correlations for all 3 short forms were generally high (ranging from .74 to .96 for the MMPI scales), the success in accurately predicting the code type was quite low. The hit rates in predicting to the 58 code types used in the study were 36.7% for the Mini-Mult, 40.4% for the MMPI-168, and 49.4% for Faschingbauer's 166 form. An analysis of false positive and false negative test misses showed further weaknesses in MMPI short forms. Results question the use of MMPI short forms for clinical interpretation based on usual profile interpretation procedures (code-type analysis). (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Empirical correlates of frequently occurring two-point MMPI code types: A replicated study.

Examined whether (a) a relatively small number of 2-point code types could account for a large proportion of MMPI protocols in a psychiatric setting, and (b) reliable behavioral and demographic correlates of these 2-point code types could be identified. MMPI protocols of 588 hospitalized psychiatric patients were randomly divided into 2 subsamples. Within each, the profiles were classified according to 19 frequently occurring 2-point code types (identified in a pilot study), permitting classification of 84% of the 588 profiles. For each subsample, each code type was compared with the remaining Ss on 68 behavioral and demographic variables. Although 300 or more significant differences were found for the comparisons in each subsample, in only 66 instances were the same differences significant in both subsamples. The relevance of these findings to MMPI interpretational practices is discussed. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

An application of methods for clustered binary responses to a cardiovascular study with small sample size

Many clinicians have come to rely on the broad array of validity scales available on the MMPI and the MMPI-2. In this study, we evaluated the utility of 2 MMPI-2 validity scales, the K scale and VRIN scale, in a sample of 692 psychiatric inpatients. Specifically, the effects of the K-correction procedure and the exclusion of protocols based on VRIN scale elevations were examined on the relation between MMPI-2 basic clinical scales and external criteria including both self-report and clinician ratings of psychopathology. Results indicated that the K-correction procedure commonly used with the MMPI and MMPI-2 did not result in higher correlations with external criteria in comparison to non-K-corrected scores. In contrast, MMPI-2 protocols that produced VRIN T-score values > or = 80 generally produced lower correlations with patients self-reports and clinician ratings of psychopathology in comparison to protocols judged to be valid based on VRIN scale results.     

MMPI-2 with male and female state and federal prison inmates.

This study examined the base rates, patterns, and configurations of male and female prisoners on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) validity, basic, supplementary, and content scales and compares them with the MMPI-2 adult norms and with the performance of offenders on the original MMPI (S. R. Hathaway & J. C. McKinley, 1943). Expectations as to which scales would show significant and meaningful elevations and effect scores were generally upheld. The most prominent MMPI-2 scales are Infrequency, 4, 6, 9, MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised, and Antisocial Practices for both genders, and Scales 5 and Addiction Admission Scale among women. Scales 0 and Responsibility scale appeared to be inhibitory scales. Men and women had similar profile configurations, but the female offenders' scores were more deviant than those of the men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI-2 clinical scales and 2-point code types: Impact of varying levels of omitted items.

The study investigated the impact of varying levels of item omissions (Cannot Say) on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) 2-point code types. Valid MMPI-2 answer sheets were obtained from psychological outpatients (N?=?100). Seven levels of item omission were investigated: 0 (baseline), 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30. Omitted items were those most frequently skipped by psychiatric outpatients. Statistically reliable but very slight declines were seen on MMPI-2 clinical scales (M?=? –1.8 T-score points at 30 Cannot Says). Defined 2-point code types were relatively stable in the face of up to 30 omitted items. However, undefined code types were changed in 25% of the cases by 10 omitted items and in 39% of the cases by 30 omitted items. These results suggest that defined code types are relatively robust in the face of up to 30 omitted items, although undefined code types appeared much more likely to be changed by omitted items even at low levels. It is recommended that item content always be reviewed in the presence of omitted items to determine if specific clinical or content scales might be affected. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI profile characteristics of psychiatric patients in an urban Canadian setting.

Studied the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) profiles of 363 inpatient and outpatient urban Canadian psychiatric patients (mean age = 31.5 yrs). The profiles as a group did not differ markedly from 2 recent American samples in their single most elevated clinical scales, in the most commonly occurring 2-point code types, or in classifiability according to the profile typology of P. A. Marks and W. Seeman (1963). With no rule violations, the Marks and Seeman typology classified only 20% of the sample; allowing 1 rule violation per profile increased the classification rate to only 41%. Further research into the applicability of American MMPI clinical lore to English-speaking Canadian populations is encouraged. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sensitivity of MMPI-2 validity scales to underreporting of symptoms.

Standard and supplementary scales designed to detect underreporting of symptoms on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (S. R. Hathaway & J. C. McKinley, 1983) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2; J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) were investigated in two groups of participants. Fifty individuals who completed the MMPI-2 under a fake-good instruction set were compared to 50 matched individuals who completed it under the standard instructions. Fake-good participants scored significantly higher than standard participants on all underreporting scales. Effect sizes showed that fake good participants differed from standard participants by nearly 2 SD on the average. Hierarchical regression and discriminant function analyses suggested that two supplementary underreporting scales, J. S. Wiggins's (1959) Social Desirability Scale and the Superlative Scale (J. N. Butcher & K. Han, 1993), have significant incremental validity over the traditional L and K scales in discriminating standard from underreported profiles. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

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)     

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)     

Ethnic differences on the MMPI-2?

Ss were 75 African-American and 725 White men and 65 African-American and 743 White women who were part of the MMPI restandardization sample (J. N. Butcher et al, 1989). Mean differences on the MMPI-2 validity and clinical scales between ethnic groups were small for both genders; however, any difference could be because of the variation in demographics. When Ss were matched by age, education, and income, fewer MMPI-2 scale means differed. In a follow-up study, the accuracy of the MMPI-2 clinical scales in predicting partner ratings was calculated. The predictions, which were based on a regression equation, were not significantly different between the 2 ethnic groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Impairment in early stages of visual information processing in nonpsychotic schizotypic individuals.

Investigated the perceptual functioning of individuals whose MMPI-168 profiles indicated schizophrenic tendencies but who did not exhibit marked thought disorder. The MMPI 2-7-8 code type was used to identify these 15 Ss from a pool of 909 college students. This group was compared on a backward visual masking task with 2 control groups: (a) 14 Ss whose profiles were inflation free and (b) 11 Ss whose profiles showed elevations on any 2 scales except the Sc. Critical interstimulus interval (ISI) was used as the dependent measure. The 2-7-8 group required significantly longer critical ISI to recognize target letters than did the inflation-free group. Regression analysis showed that for the group that showed inflations on any 2 scales except Sc, Sc was a significant predictor of critical ISI. It is concluded that a deficit exists at a very early stage in the visual information processing system of the 2-7-8 group. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Test-retest stability of injured workers' MMPI-2 profiles.

94 workers completed the (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2) MMPI-2 on 2 separate occasions, with an average lag of 21.3 months (SD?=?14.1, range--2-75), within the context of a psychological assessment after suffering an injury due to crime or accident. MMPI-2 profiles were moderately consistent, with correlation coefficients ranging from .61 to .73 for clinical scales, from .52 to .80 for supplementary scales, from .65 to .78 for content scales, and from .32 to .73 for the Personality Psychopathology Five scales (A. R. Harkness et al, 1995). The results suggest that the MMPI 2 provides consistent and stable results across time in injured workers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)