An initial look at the redundancy of specialized MMPI scales.

Numerous specialized MMPI scales have been developed despite speculation that the information provided by such scales replicates information that can be obtained from the 13 MMPI scales of the standard profile. In the present study with 112 male and 85 female psychiatric patients and 170 male police and fire department job applicants, scores of 3 specialized MMPI scales (the Prejudice scale, the Barron Ego-Strength scale, and the MacAndrew Alcoholism scale) were found to be highly related to the scores of the standard MMPI scales. However, individual scores of the 3 specialized scales could not be accurately predicted from the standard scales. Furthermore, alcoholic and nonalcoholic psychiatric patients were more accurately identified by the 13 standard scales than by the MacAndrew Alcoholism scale. It is concluded that the 3 scales studied appear to provide information not available from the standard MMPI scales. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reliabilities and intercorrelations of eight measures of proneness to psychosis.

Scales thought to measure psychosis proneness—Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Psychoticism scale; the Schizoidia scale; composite scales for the MMPI 2-7-8 and 2-7-8-0 profiles; and Physical Anhedonia, Perceptual Aberration, Magical Ideation, and Nonconformity scales—were compared on their coefficient-alpha estimate of reliability and were intercorrelated, using 7,614 college students and 340 outpatient clinic clients. Test–retest reliability was examined for 5 of the scales using 511 college students. The Psychoticism and Nonconformity scales were found to measure the same pathology, but the Nonconformity scale did so more reliably. The Schizoidia scale was found to measure the same pathology as the MMPI 2-7-8 and 2-7-8-0 scales, but the longer MMPI scales did so more reliably. The Magical Ideation and Perceptual Aberration scales were highly correlated, and both had a negative correlation with the Physical Anhedonia scale. The MMPI 2-7-8 and 2-7-8-0 scales correlated positively with all of the other scales, indicating that these MMPI composite scales are sensitive to more than one kind of pathology. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI: Professional use by professional people.

Aletter in answer to Mr. R., who inquired about the use of items relating to religion in the MMPI and pointed out that there are laws against inquiry about religious affiliation, is reproduced. "There is a well-recognized pattern of psychological distortion to which we apply the term "religiosity." There are also "frankly stated items on sex,… on body functions,… on certain occupations… " etc. Respondents "may omit any item they do not wish to answer for whatever purpose." Separate scores are derived on groups of items in the MMPI called scales; via machine scoring standard scores are derived which are "remote from the particular items that make up a scale. The MMPI is an experimentally derived instrument." If an item counts on a scale, it is on the basis of responses with well defined groups of maladjusted or mentally ill persons. "Tests are not offensive elements; the offensive elements, if any, come with the misuse of tests." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A validity check on MMPI scales of responsibility and dominance.

This study presents evidence on the validity and limits of applicability of the MMPI portion of the responsibility scale and the dominance scale. "25 Minneapolis fire captains did not differ significantly from 262 Minneapolis firemen in mean scores obtained on the MMPI items of the social responsibility and dominance scales. If the attainment of a captaincy is granted as an appropriate criterion, the data appear to constitute evidence against the validity of at least the MMPI portion of the responsibility scale. The criterion may be less appropriate with respect to Dominance." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical utility of the MMPI research scales in the assessment of adolescent acting out behaviors.

The substantial number of MMPI research scales developed during the last 50 yrs provides a unique opportunity to compare the practical value of a large number of related scales and the methodologies used to develop them. To this end, the concurrent validity of 93 MMPI scales as measures of acting out (aggressiveness, chemical dependency, delinquency, family conflict, and school behavior problems) was evaluated in a sample of 327 adolescent inpatients. Results generally support the construct validity of the Psychopathic Deviate scale but also reveal several research scales that function well as broad measures of acting out. There were, however, relatively few scales that were narrowly related to specific behavioral tendencies. Scales consisting exclusively of face-valid items generally performed better in this regard than did scales including "subtle" items, and they appear to have greater clinical utility with this population. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Locus of control and political participation of college students: A comparison of unidimensional and multidimensional approaches.

Compared 2 research instruments concerned with the "locus of control" variable-Rotter's Internal-External Control (I-E) Scale and Coan's Personal Opinion Survey-to see how each could predict political participation of newly enfranchised college freshmen (N = 102) in a presidential election year. The Personal Opinion Survey yielded significant correlations (p .05). Discussion of the different theoretical approaches of the scales includes (a) an evaluation in light of the present data of the arguments against the usefulness of the I-E scale; and (b) the need for a change in research orientation to a multidimensional approach, which the Personal Opinion Survey utilizes. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Negative response bias and the MMPI Overcontrolled-Hostility scale: A response to Deiker.

Tested the hypothesis of T. E. Deiker (see record 1974-27935-001) that "naysaying" accounts for the MMPI Overcontrolled-Hostility (O-H) scale's ability to discriminate among criminal groups differing in their propensity for violence. 4 balanced O-H scales were constructed by adding "true" or deleting "false" keyed items according to different selection strategies. The 2 extended scales discriminated cross-validation groups as well or better than the regular imbalanced O-H scale, and the shortened scales were significant or approached significance in 3 of 4 comparisons. It is concluded that the validity of the O-H scale is not dependent on naysaying. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Binge eating in obesity: Associated MMPI characteristics.

This study was conducted to determine if Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) characteristics are associated with binge-eating severity among obese women. Obese women (N?=?207) were administered the MMPI and Gormally's Binge Eating Scale. Binge scores varied along a continuum from nonbinging to very severe binging and were consistently and linearly associated with 12 of 17 MMPI scales. The Hypomania (Ma) scale and the Repression (R) and MacAndrew (Mac) scales were consistently unrelated to binge-eating severity, whereas the Hysteria and Masculinity/Femininity scales (Hy and Mf, respectively) were associated with binge severity in some analyses but not in others. MMPI scores accounted for 29% of the variance in binge scores, with the Psychasthenia scale (Pt) alone accounting for 23% of the variance. Results indicate that among obese women seeking treatment (a) there is much variability in binge severity, (b) MMPI characteristics are significantly related to binge severity, (c) as binge severity increases so does psychological disturbance, and (d) Scale Pt alone accounts for 23% of the variance in binge severity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Norms and recidivism rates for the MMPI and selected experimental scales on a Canadian delinquent sample.

Provides norms and recidivism rates on the MMPI and a number of experimental scales for 646 young English-speaking offenders in the province of Ontario. Data gathered in the study confirm a need for an updating of MMPI and selected experimental scale norms on correctional samples. Specific changes in delinquents' MMPI norms are noted and compared to norms gathered on psychiatric samples in Ontario. The adequacy of psychological tests, in particular the MMPI and the selected experimental scales, in predicting recidivism is discussed. At best, the scales in the present study were mediocre predictors of recidivism, and the MMPI fared relatively poorly in comparison to some of the selected experimental scales. (French summary) (40 ref). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality characteristics of the mothers of children with disruptive behavior disorders.

The biological mothers of 100 outpatient children aged 6–13 years completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). Mothers of children given DSM-III diagnoses of conduct disorder (CD; n?=?13) had significantly higher scores on MMPI scales associated with antisocial behavior (Psychopathic Deviate and Hypomania), histrionic behavior (Hypochondriasis and Hysteria), and disturbed adjustment (Schizophrenia). In contrast, the children"s diagnosis of attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity (ADD/H; n?=?22) was not significantly associated with any maternal MMPI elevations, and the CD?×?ADD/H interactions were not significant for any MMPI scale. These results indicate that CD is linked to maternal personality disorder, but ADD/H is not. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI clinical scale correlates.

Discusses and compares the results of 7 independent studies that have attempted empirically to identify the behavioral or symptom correlates of individual MMPI clinical scales for psychiatric patients. Symptom correlates, in general, tend to provide construct validity for the "traditional" interpretation of individual scales. The correlations are uniformly quite low, however, and individual scales evidence relatively few instances of unique discrimination. Major symptom correlates for individual scales also tend to be significantly related to 2-point profile codes that include the individual scales, although there are obvious differences that may be associated with scale profiles. Some possible interactions of scale correlates with race, sex, and clinical setting are noted. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Acquiescence and the vanishing variance component.

An experimental (reversal) group took both the MMPI and a reversed form of the MMPI. A control (reliability) group took the MMPI twice. All tests were scored on 67 scales, with keying reversed for the reversed MMPI. Only trivial proportions of the response variance were found to be attributable to acquiescence for any of the uniformly keyed scales employed. Included were the scales most often suggested as measures of acquiescence: A, R, B, Bn, Rb, Acq, At, Dy-3, Deviant True, Deviant False, and Total True. Conclusion: acquiescence is an unimportant determinant of MMPI responses, including responses to items on "acquiescence" scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Influence of overlapping and nonoverlapping items on the theoretical interrelationships of MMPI scales.

Scored 100 adults' MMPI protocols for (a) items appearing only on 1 scale (nonoverlapping) and (b) items appearing on more than 1 scale (overlapping). The correspondence of these 2 sets of scales to a theoretical structure composed of neuroticism, psychoticism, and extraversion dimensions was considered using a method presented by J. A. Wakefield and E. B. Doughtie (see record 1974-08049-001). The correspondence of the scales composed of nonoverlapping items with the theoretical structure was insignificant. The correspondence of the scales composed of overlapping items conformed extremely closely to the theoretical structure. Results indicate that neuroticism, psychoticism, and extraversion factors found in the MMPI are due to items that appear on more than 1 scale. It is argued that the factors attributable to the overlapping items validly represent the similarity of the criteria against which the scales were validated. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effect of background items on responses to personality inventory items.

3 questionnaires were constructed. 1 consisted of just items from the MMPI Social Introversion (Si) Scale. The 2nd had these items intermingled with items (from the MMPI L and K scales) which usually evoke a "true" response. The 3rd questionnaire had the Si items intermingled with items (from the F scale) which usually evoke a "false" response. There were 6 groups (45 Ss each), a male and female group for each form. The experimental hypothesis was that Ss would respond differentially to the Si items depending on the background items. Analysis of variance showed no significant effects associated with the different forms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correlates of the MMPI-2-RF in a college setting.

The current study examined empirical correlates of scores on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI–2–RF; A. Tellegen & Y. S. Ben-Porath, 2008; Y. S. Ben-Porath & A. Tellegen, 2008) scales in a college setting. The MMPI–2–RF and six criterion measures (assessing anger, assertiveness, sex roles, cognitive failures, social avoidance, and social fear) were administered to 846 college students (nmen = 264, nwomen = 582) to examine the convergent and discriminant validity of scores on the MMPI–2–RF Specific Problems and Interest scales. Results demonstrated evidence of generally good convergent score validity for the selected MMPI–2–RF scales, reflected in large effect size correlations with criterion measure scores. Further, MMPI–2–RF scale scores demonstrated adequate discriminant validity, reflected in relatively low comparative median correlations between scores on MMPI–2–RF substantive scale sets and criterion measures. Limitations and future directions are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Further comments on the internal structure of the MMPI.

The Shure and Rogers findings are examined in relation to other studies in which the factor structure of the MMPI basic scales obtained with actual data is compared to the structure based merely on item overlap among the scales. There is no direct experimental evidence that spurious correlations yield a "built-in" factor structure that is the direct cause of the structure obtained with experimental Ss in the 10 MMPI basic clinical scales. A more concervative interpretation of the Shure and Rogers findings is suggested. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Correspondence between Mini-Mult and standard MMPI scale scores in patients with neurological disease.

Explored the possible utility of the Mini-Mult vs the standard MMPI in 18 patients with left hemisphere lesions, 18 with right hemisphere lesions, and 18 non-brain-damaged medical controls. Close correspondence was found between mean Mini-Mult and standard MMPI scale scores for all scales except scale 9. Although all correlations were significant beyond the .01 level, only scales L, K, 1, 2, and 3 reached acceptable levels of equivalence. The Mini-Mult correctly predicted the MMPI high-scale score only 55.5% of the time. It is suggested that the poor predictive value of the Mini-Mult for the individual, despite adequate group prediction, reflects weakness in the test rather than sampling differences due to severity of illness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ringing in the new: The MMPI-2.

In a timely paper entitled "The Research Base, Psychometric Properties and Clinical Uses of the MMPI-2," Butcher and Pope guide test users and researchers toward an understanding of the updated MMPI by summarizing its key features. A central reason for revising the MMPI, according to Butcher and Pope, was the need to edit specific items for ambiguity, complexity, and outmoded or sexist wording. At the same time, the MMPI revision committee committed itself to a "conservative" revision with the goal of keeping the basic scales relatively intact. The authors attribute the adoption of a conservative strategy to a desire to ensure the continued relevance of the vast MMPI research base. They could have argued further that the success of the original MMPI attests to the clinical usefulness and heuristic value of the basic scales. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessing posttraumatic disorder with the MMPI–2 in a sample of workplace accident victims.

In this study, the predictive capacity of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder–Keane (MMPI–2 PK) scale was examined in a sample of trauma victims who experienced a serious workplace-related accident and subsequent injury. In keeping with a number of previous investigations, the PK scale was largely ineffective in identifying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) beyond overall symptom and functional severity. In contrast, sets of clinical and content scales proved to be significant predictors of PTSD. These findings suggest that the PK scale is not particularly useful in detecting PTSD in civilian trauma samples. Clinicians might be best advised to use the MMPI–2 clinical and content scales in their assessment of PTSD in civilian patients presenting with a history of trauma. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Note of caution on the factor analysis of the MMPI.

Although the dangers associated with factoring test scales containing overlapping items (items used on more than 1 scale) have been pointed out by Guilford (1952), factor studies of scales embodying item overlap continue. The present study explores the possibility that the neurotic triad and the psychotic triad or tetrad factors found in 4 studies derive from the existence of a methodological artifact associated with item overlap. To test this possibility, MMPI interscale common-element correlations (produced solely by item overlap) were factor analyzed. 2 of 3 factors extracted are highly similar to neurotic triad and psychotic triad or tetrad factors found for 4 samples. These 2 factors do not appear in a factor analysis of truncated (overlap items removed) MMPI scale scores. Since the overlap factors are based solely on the scale intercorrelations due to overlap items, these results appear to support Guilford's warning and open to question the legitimacy of these MMPI factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)