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)     

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)     

Reliability of Holland codes across interest measures for adult females.

Derived 8 3-letter codes representing J. L. Holland's (1973) personality types from 3 inventories: the Self-Directed Search, the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (3 types of scales), and the Kuder Occupational Interest Survey (4 types of scales) for each of 52 adult women. Comparisons between codes derived from these sources revealed that agreement between any 2 sources of codes was varied. Some pairs agreed to the extent that the 3 letters of the codes were the same although not in the same order; others agreed to the extent that the 1st 2 letters matched 2 from the other. Findings support Holland's injunction to consider all codes that may be derived from the 3 highest ranking types rather than to limit consideration to occupations related to the code in only the order produced by the instrument. (18 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)     

Similarities of patients treated by private practice psychologists and psychiatrists.

Over 12,000 patients of psychologists and psychiatrists were compared regarding demographic data and MMPI 2-point codes (J. T. Webb, 1970). No professional contributed more than 30 cases to the total sample, and the sample represented every state in the continental US. Results indicate remarkable similarity in patient populations of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists regarding (a) demographic characteristics of patients and (b) type and severity of psychopathology as measured by MMPI 2-point codes. The few MMPI differences appeared attributable primarily to educational differences in the caseloads of the 2 professions. Such similarity in a nationwide sample contradicts the often expressed view that psychiatrists rather than psychologists see patients who are more seriously disturbed. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the MMPI and the MMPI-2 for a sample of peace officers.

166 peace officers completed the MMPI and the MMPI-2 in one sitting. Results showed an overall concordance of 78% for the 2 tests when normal, high-point, and 2-point code types were grouped together and compared. A subset of well-defined profiles produced a concordance rate of 90%. Comparison of profile characteristics showed that half of the Ss produced the same high-point code type, one-third produced the same 2-point code type, 70% produced normal profiles on both tests, and all MMPI and MMPI-2 scales were highly correlated. These figures are highly similar to those found previously for 2 administrations of the MMPI. When the MMPI was compared to the MMPI-2 scored on original norms, 2 scales were found to differ significantly: Men and women both scored lower on Scale D (Depression) of the revised test; on Scale Mf (Masculinity-Femininity) of the MMPI-2, women scored higher and men scored lower. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Profile classification strategies for the Personality Inventory for Children.

Examined 2 profile classification strategies for use with the 12 clinical scales of the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC): reciprocal 2-point code types and code type factor clusters. The PIC profiles of 556 children, who comprised 6 of the criterion groups used in PIC scale development, and the 6–16 yr old normative sample (n?=?2,390) were classified by each system. Differences in frequencies across criterion groups of all the examined classification categories were significant and conceptually meaningful. Only 12% of the normative profiles had 2 or more PIC clinical scales with T scores greater than 69. Additional study of a heterogeneous sample of 691 child guidance protocols compared code type classification rates using traditional rules with a revised classification system based on previous actuarial study of individual profile scales. The possible interpretive significance of obtained sex and age differences in code type frequencies is discussed, as are proposed efforts to develop optimum code type interpretations. (39 ref) (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)     

Methodological issues and racial (black-white) comparisons on the MMPI.

Compared the MMPI profiles of 160 white and 160 black psychiatric patients matched for sex, socioeconomic status (education and occupation), hospital status, age, and duration of illness. Phase 1 analysis used all profiles, while Phase 2 (n = 116) was limited to valid profiles. Results show that (a) race was a primary source of variance, (b) dependent measures were not entirely comparable, and (c) application of selection criteria was a powerful parameter influencing outcome. Blacks elevated Scales F, 1, 5, 8, 9, and the overall profile mean, elevated Scale 8 as the highest and Scale 1 as the 2nd-highest code, and produced more 8-6 and 2-4 codes than whites. Whites elevated Scale 3 and 7 as the highest and 2nd-highest point codes, and produced 2-7 and 4-7 codes more frequently. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The 4-3 MMPI profile type: A failure to replicate.

Using a sample of male prison inmates as Ss, the incidence of violent crimes for 65 persons with the 4-3 MMPI profile type and 64 with other 2-point code types was compared. Results fail to replicate the findings of some earlier investigators, who reported that violent behaviors are more common for persons with the 4-3 profile type. The failure to identify a significant relationship between the 4-3 profile type and violent behavior suggests that caution should be exercised in generalizing to populations that differ from those in which the relationship between violence and the 4-3 profile type is established. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Decision rules for phenomenological classification of psychiatric patients.

Used cluster analysis and related numerical taxonomy methods to identify 8 distinct phenomenological types in the psychiatric population, and prototype patterns for the types are described in terms of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) profiles. Numerical methods are provided for classifying individual patients based on similarity to the prototype patterns. Patients can also be classified operationally by simple decision rules involving 2-point code typing of BPRS profile patterns. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clonal analysis of a human antibody response. III. Nucleotide sequences of monoclonal IgM, IgG, and IgA to rabies virus reveal restricted V kappa gene utilization, junctional V kappa J kappa and V lambda J lambda diversity, and somatic hypermutation

In previous work, we generated four IgM, five IgG1, and one IgA1 mAbs to rabies virus using B cells from four subjects vaccinated with inactivated rabies virus, a thymus-dependent (TD) mosaic Ag, and sequenced the mAb V(H)DJ(H) genes. Here, we have cloned the V kappa J kappa and V lambda J lambda genes to complete the primary structure of the Ag-binding site of these mAbs. While the anti-rabies virus mAb selection of VA genes (2e.2.2 twice, DPL11, and DPL23) reflected the representation of the V lambda genes in the human haploid genome (stochastic utilization), that of V kappa genes (O2/O12 twice, O8/O18, A3/A19, A27, and L2) did not (p = 0.0018) (nonstochastic utilization). Furthermore, the selection of both V kappa and V lambda genes by the anti-rabies virus mAbs vastly overlapped with that of 557 assorted V kappa J kappa rearrangements, that of 253 V lambda J lambda rearrangements in lambda-type gammopathies, and that of other Abs to thymus-dependent Ags, including 23 anti-HIV mAbs and 51 rheumatoid factors, but differed from that of 43 Abs to Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide, a prototypic thymus-independent (TI) Ag. The anti-rabies virus mAb V kappa J kappa and V lambda J lambda segments displayed variable numbers of somatic mutations, which, in mAb58 and the virus-neutralizing mAb57, entailed a significant concentration of amino acid replacements in the complementarity-determining regions (p = 0.0028 and p = 0.0023, respectively), suggesting a selection by Ag. This Ag-dependent somatic selection process was superimposed on a somatic diversification process that occurred at the stage of B cell receptor for Ag rearrangement, and that entailed V gene 3' truncation and N nucleotide additions to yield heterogeneous CDR3s.     

A critical history of CPA's various code of ethics for psychologists (1939–1986).

States that codes of ethics are historical products of the professionalization process; the form and content of codes of ethics develop within the specific historical context of the professionalization process of the occupational group for which they are written. During the 1950s and 1960s, the Canadian Psychological Association's (CPA) decisions regarding adoption of a code of ethics were centered on 2 major professionalization needs; namely, to secure a market niche for "psychologists" as this was defined by CPA, and to sustain this image as the basis for continuing funding for related psychological research. Different historical factors resulted in the decision by CPA, in the 1970s, to produce a made-in-Canada code of ethics. These were (a) the need of CPA to produce a document of professional self-regulation that recognized problems faced by psychological practitioners employed within various organizational structures, and (b) organizational problems of the CPA related to disciplinary unity and achievement of a national leadership role. The results of this critical historical analysis confirm the importance of codes of professional ethics as strategies of professionalization as hypothesized by J. Louw in 1990. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI patterns in drug abusers before and after treatment in therapeutic communities.

Administered MMPIs to 145 17-23 yr old male and female drug abusers on admission to 3 therapeutic communities. Retests were done after 3 mo for the females and at the finish of the 1st phase of the program (6-8 mo) for all who stayed. Comparisons of stayers and quitters showed quitters higher on the F and psychotic scales with more 2-point codes containing 2 psychotic scales. Stayers more frequently showed a psychopathic (49-94) pattern. With the exception of Ma, most clinical scales decreased after residence in the communities, leaving a residual psychopathic profile (49-94) in 63% of the residents. Depressive-neurotic patterns virtually disappeared and were assumed to have been reactive rather than causal in the drug abuser. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Frequency of MMPI two-point code types among sex offenders.

Two-point Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) codes were calculated for 403 convicted sex offenders, yielding 43 code types. The relative frequencies of codes were compared among rapists, child molesters, incest offenders, first offenders, and recidivists. Code frequencies were also compared with frequencies in previously reported studies of psychiatric patients and criminals. Sex offenders showed more 4–5 and 4–8 profiles than other prisoner groups. Rapists showed more profiles that are usually associated with assaultiveness. There were significant differences in code frequencies between incestuous biological fathers and stepfathers and between first offenders and recidivists. The heterogeneity of MMPI profiles precludes stereotypic generalizations about sex-offender characteristics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Deleterious brain cell membrane effects after NMDA receptor antagonist administration to newborn piglets

Heroin administered i.c.v. acts on supraspinal mu opioid receptors in ICR mice but on delta receptors in Swiss Webster mice. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree to which genotype plays a role in the opioid receptor selectivity of heroin across a range of fully inbred strains of mice. Six inbred strains were given heroin i.c.v. 10 min before the tail-flick test. Differences in the descending neurotransmitter systems involved in supraspinal opioid-induced analgesia were evaluated as the first step. Antagonism by bicuculline given intrathecally indicated the involvement of supraspinal delta receptors in activating spinal gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors; antagonism by intrathecal methysergide indicated either mu or kappa receptor involvement. Antagonism by intrathecal yohimbine implicated mu and eliminated kappa receptor involvement. Intracerbroventricular opioid antagonists (beta-funaltrexamine, 7-benzylidenenaltrexone, naltriben, or nor-binaltorphimine) provided further differentiation. Based on these initial results, receptor selectivity was determined by more extensive ED50 experiments with i.c.v. administration of heroin with opioid antagonists, beta-funaltrexamine (for mu), naltrindole (for delta), and nor-binaltorphimine (for kappa). The combined results indicated that heroin analgesia was predominantly mediated in C57BL/6J by delta, in DBA/2J and CBA/J by mu, and in BALB/cByJ and AKR/J by kappa receptors. The response in C3H/HeJ appeared to involve mu receptors. The results indicate that the opioid receptor selectivity of heroin is genotype-dependent. Because these genotypes are fully inbred, the genetically determined molecular and neurochemical substrate mediating the different opioid receptor selectivities of heroin can be studied further.     

Differences in MMPI profiles with the norms of Colligan et al.

Provides data from 2,083 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPIs) on the nature of differences in the number of elevated scales and in the 2- and 3-point code types that occur when norms developed by R. C. Colligan et al (1983) are applied. Although the results show some stability, they also show enough changes to make it clear that no one-to-one correspondence exists between the results of original norms and the results of new norms developed by Colligan et al. Until the clinical relevance of these differences is determined the norms of Colligan et al should be used in conjunction with the original norms. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Detecting sequential patterns and determining their reliability with fallible observers.

On the basis of recent work by W. Gardner (1995), implications of fallible observers for observational research are discussed. Analysis shows that for identically fallible observers, values for kappa are lower when codes are few and their simple probabilities variable than when codes are many and roughly equiprobable; thus no one value of kappa can be regarded as universally acceptable. Additional analysis shows that fallible measurement degrades indices of sequential pattern more when codes are few and their simple probabilities variable. Finally, a simulation study establishes likely values for intraclass correlation reliabilities for sequential indices generated by various circumstances and suggests principled ways to select both lengths of sequences and acceptable levels of kappa for observational studies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Color versus shape coding in information displays.

8 Ss counted objects of a specified color or shape on displays of 20, 60, or 100 items. Counting time and errors increased with increasing display density. Counting based on a 5-valued color code was faster and more accurate than counting using any of 3 shape codes. Color counting was not affected by the particular shape code on which the colors were superimposed. Shape counting was somewhat faster and/or more accurate when color did not vary on the display, and vice versa. Differences in counting performance appeared among the 3 shape codes and among certain of the symbols within shape codes, and small differences were confirmed among the particular code colors used. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of measures of expressed and inventoried vocational interests among counseling center clients.

Compared the responses of 50 female and 50 male counseling center clients (18–36 yrs old) to the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII) and the Vocational Card Sort (VCS). The 2 sets of Holland themes, using 3-point codes, were moderately related. Although the 5 highest basic interests of the 2 measures were rather strongly related, the relationships between the 5 highest occupational scales were less clearly related. It was also found that for females, the 5 highest VCS occupations were less sexually stereotyped than the comparable SCII scales. No differences were found for males. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)