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)     

A theoretical note on personality characteristics of heroin addicts.

Contends that P. B. Sutker's (see record 1972-09270-001) finding that heroin addicts produced a more elevated MMPI profile than a comparable sample of nonaddicts may have been due to the fact that heroin addicts were "volunteers" for treatment, unlike the nonaddict sample. The present study provided a demonstration of the effect of the "volunteer" factor on addict and nonaddict MMPI profiles. More elevated MMPI profiles were found both for volunteer addict and nonaddict Ss (n = 17) when compared to MMPI profiles of nonvolunteer addicts and nonaddicts (n = 33). The MMPI profiles of addicts and nonaddicts were quite similar when the volunteer factor was controlled. (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)     

Personality traits and persistence of interest in teaching as a vocational choice.

MMPI scores were compared for "persistent" and "nonpersistent" male and female college students. "Persistent" meant completion of a program of teacher preparation and acceptance of a teaching position after graduation; "nonpersistent" meant making application for admission to a teacher preparation program but not enrolling in the program. Significant differences between persistent and nonpersistent females in mean scores were found on five of nine MMPI scales, but only one significant difference was found for the male groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

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)     

Use of norm groups to adjust student ratings of instruction: A warning.

D. P. Hoyt et al (1973, 1978) recommend the use of norm groups, controlled for class size and student motivation, to adjust student ratings of instruction and make comparisons among teachers more appropriate. The method that Hoyt employs for generating norm groups relies heavily on the use of volunteer Ss. This study made a student evaluation-of-instruction questionnaire available to 169 teachers over a 2-yr period. 69 instructors volunteered to use the questionnaire. Volunteers were compared with nonvolunteers on a previously collected mandatory student evaluation questionnaire. The hypothesis that volunteer teachers' student ratings were reliably superior to the ratings of nonvolunteer teachers was confirmed. The implications for the generation and use of norm groups are discussed. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personal characteristics of volunteer phone counselors.

Compared 26 volunteer telephone counselors and 34 nonvolunteer undergraduates using the Tennessee Self Concept Scale, the Personal Orientation Inventory, and the Self-Disclosure Questionnaire. Results show no differences between the groups on their self-concept except in their moral-ethical perceptions of themselves. The groups did differ on the other measures. The counselors showed a pattern of responding in the Personal Orientation Inventory suggesting that they were more self-actualizing than the college group, and they indicated a greater degree of openness on the Self-Disclosure Questionnaire. Results suggest that the volunteers are altruistic in their motivation to work in this capacity and serve as important role models for their clients. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A test of the voluntarism hypothesis among nonvolunteering opiate addicts who voluntarily return to treatment.

Research on the voluntarism hypothesis, which holds that self-reported psychopathology is greater on MMPI clinical scales among addicts who enter treatment on their own volition than among those who do not, has been plagued by differences in treatment settings, types of voluntarism, and lack of experimental designs. Experimental design deficiencies were corrected in the present study, where MMPI scores of 20 former nonvolunteering addicts who voluntarily returned for treatment were compared with 20 matched addicts who had volunteered on both 1st and 2nd admissions. The voluntarism hypothesis was supported. Former nonvolunteers evidenced significantly higher MMPI scores on 2nd admission for scales F, Mf, Pt, Sc, and Si. Volunteers did not significantly differ between 1st and 2nd admissions. Findings underscore the necessity for continuing to improve methods in addiction research. (9 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)     

Use of MMPI subtypes in predicting completion of a residential alcoholism treatment program.

To obtain data on patient characteristics relevant to treatment outcome, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was administered to 86 men 3–5 days following their admission to a 30-day residential alcoholism treatment program. Cluster analyses yielded three subtypes whose mean MMPI code types were as follows: Type I comprised a 4-2-8 code type, with marked additional pathology; Type II comprised a 4-9/9-4 code type; and Type III comprised a 2-4/4-2 code type. The subtypes differed significantly in their rates of treatment completion, with Type II yielding a greater proportion of program dropouts. To investigate the effect of time of MMPI administration on subtype results, 68 subjects who remained in treatment were readministered the MMPI 14–26 days following admission. A comparison of Time 1 and Time 2 typologies highlights the importance of test administration time and provides some explanation for previous discrepant findings. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

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)     

Suicide and natural death in a state hospital population: A comparison of admission complaints, MMPI profiles, and social competence factors.

Contrasted completed suicides in a state hospital with natural deaths and inpatients. No significant differences were found among the groups on patterns of admission complaints. For all 3 groups (Ns = 27, 173, 109), depression was found to be the most frequent admission complaint. Neither MMPI profiles nor a recently developed suicide threat scale served to discriminate suicides from the comparison groups. Highly significant differences were found on social competence variables, with suicides tending to be younger, more intelligent, and better educated than comparison groups. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Do college teachers who voluntarily have courses evaluated receive higher student ratings?

Analyzed Instructional Development and Effectiveness Assessment (IDEA) student rating data from 13,063 classes from several academic fields and institutions. The purpose was to test the hypothesis that teachers who voluntarily continued to use the student rating form after a first mandatory use would be rated higher by students than "nonvolunteer" teachers, who chose not to use the rating. Classes were divided into 3 groups: volunteers, in which the decision to evaluate was entirely the instructor's; intermediate, in which the evaluation was required, but the instructor chose the class; and nonvolunteers, in which the instructor was required to have the class evaluated. Statistically significant differences among the 3 groups were found for 26 of the 39 IDEA items (probably because of the very large Ns). Based upon ω–2 analyses, none of these differences were of practical significance; none of the ω–2 values accounted for even 1% of the variance. It is concluded that voluntariness of evaluation need not be taken into consideration when using large, multi-institutional, comparative student rating data pools. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The MMPI and chronic pain.

112 chronic pain patients (mean age 48.4 yrs) completed the MMPI upon entering either an anesthesiologic or a psychiatric treatment program. Pretreatment MMPI performance was found to be successful in predicting patient outcome an average of 20 mo following treatment, with the K (Test-Taking Attitude), Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, and Masculinity and Femininity scales accounting for most of the variance. The strength of this relationship varied as a function of the measure of outcome and type of treatment received. Substantial MMPI differences were found when Ss with only one part of their body in pain were compared with those with multiple pain complaints. Significant MMPI differences were also found in comparisons based on Ss' sex, type of pain (e.g., head vs back), and type of treatment for which was referred (i.e., psychiatric vs anesthesiologic). Clinical implications of the observed MMPI differences are discussed. Results are seen as demonstrating the value of the MMPI as a clinical and research instrument within this population. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Residual psychopathology in released psychiatric patients and its relation to readmission.

The degree and type of mental pathology reflected in MMPI scores was surveyed in 147 hospitalized psychiatric patients upon admission and release. Both statistical and clinical assessments of the profiles were made with analyses related to changes during hospitalization and to comparison with normal groups. Results vary depending on method of assessment. A substantial group of profile-pairs are judged as showing improvement at release (75%), while the remainder (25%) show more illness. Statistical analysis shows significant group improvement but exit profiles do not resemble those of normals. Psychotic profile types do not change to resemble neurotic ones with hospital treatment. MMPI change scores seem to anticipate rehospitalization better than evaluation of the patients' exit profile alone. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A self-control behavior therapy program for depression.

A behavior therapy program based on a self-control model of depression was evaluated against a nonspecific group therapy condition and a waiting list control group, 28 depressed volunteer female Ss ages 18–48 were administered a psychological test battery including the Beck Depression Inventory and the MMPI and randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 experimental conditions. The experimental therapy procedure consisted of a 6-wk group treatment program that sequentially focused on modifying self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-control skills. In each phase specific self-control principles were discussed in conjunction with behavioral homework assignments involving activity schedules. The self-control therapy Ss showed significantly greater reduction in depression on self-report and behavioral measures. Self-control Ss also showed greater improvement in overall pathology on the MMPI. There was some evidence that self-control Ss improved on specific measures of self-control behavior. A 6-wk follow-up generally confirmed maintenance of improvement. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI scores of counselors on alcoholism prior to and after training.

Compared the MMPI scores of male alcoholism counselors before and after a 9-mo counselor training program. All Ss were recovered alcoholics or drug addicts. Few significant standard score differences were found, although raw score data reveal considerable shifting in individual scores. Additional data indicate that MMPI Pd and Ma scores measure rather enduring traits of addictive personalities. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prognostic patterns in self-report, relative report, and professional evaluation measures for hospitalized and day-care patients.

Investigated differences between patients who relapse and those who do not in both hospital and day-care settings. Ss were 142 adult psychiatric patients. Hospital and day-care groups were matched on a variety of demographic, social, and clinical variables. Three groups of measures were used: one based on professional evaluation (e.g., Inpatient Multidimensional Psychiatric Scale), one based on self-report (e.g., Katz Adjustment Scales), and one based on relative report (e.g., MMPI). No differences were found between hospital and day-care centers in proportion of patients relapsed. Of the 3 groups of measures, those based on professional evaluation were least able to distinguish relapsed from nonrelapsed patients. On self-report and relative report measures, the scores of patients who relapsed following day-care treatment resembled those of patients who succeeded following hospital treatment and vice-versa. (31 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-validation of the Megargee MMPI typology for prisoners.

To cross-validate the E. I. Megargee and Dorhout (1977) and J. Meyer and Megargee (1977) MMPI typology for prisoners, one sample consisting of 2,063 male federal offenders and one sample consisting of 1,455 (164 females, 1291 males) state offenders were obtained. By use of a computer typing program, over 85% of these Ss were classified, and all of Megargee's 10 profile types were identified within each sample. Additional data collection and subsequent analyses revealed (a) significant age differences among the male state MMPI types; (b) significant differences in regard to the proportion of each type found within the male and female state offender samples; (c) significant differences among the federal MMPI types in terms of their current offenses; and (d) significant differences among the federal types in terms of the total number as well as the number of verbally aggressive and group-defiant rule infractions committed while incarcerated. It is concluded that the Megargee typology is a valid and generalizable system. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)