Differences in measures of personality and family environment among Black and White alcoholics.

Reviewing 16 studies, D. Pritchard and A. Rosenblatt (see record 1980-11070-001) claimed to find no evidence that the MMPI is racially biased. M. Gynther and S. B. Green (see record 1980-11037-001), reviewing 40 studies, concluded that racial bias in the MMPI varies as a function of sampling, with bias more likely when normal Blacks are compared with normal Whites but not when abnormal groups are compared. The present study compared MMPI scores of 272 White and 56 Black alcoholics. Blacks scored significantly lower on a few scales (e.g., Hysteria), but profile differences were not clinically meaningful, particularly when the covariates of age, education, and socioeconomic status were controlled. Blacks differed appreciably on the Family Environment Scale (FES), however, rating social climates more positively than Whites. Findings that Blacks obtained negligible differences on a wholly White normed test (the MMPI), contrasted with the significant differences and better adjustment shown by Blacks over Whites on a test normed with minority-group representation (the FES), interject new considerations into the issue of racial bias. Whereas nonsignificant differences would not appear to support the contention of racial bias on the MMPI, FES results question whether such nonsignificance actually rules out test bias. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Normalized transformations and the interpretation of MMPI T scores: A reply to Hsu.

Replies to L. M. Hsu's (see record 1985-02859-001) criticisms of the present authors' (see record 1980-11023-001) recommendation to use normalized T scores for MMPI scales. The present reply addresses Hsu's objections from a theoretical standpoint and in the context of MMPI responses from a new reference sample of 1,408 normal adults. These new data support the present authors' previous recommendation and represent a step in stimulating new research and revitalizing the MMPI for clinical relevance. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The new uniform T scores for the MMPI—2: Rationale, derivation, and appraisal.

Although normative distributions of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI—2) clinical and content scales tend to be positively skewed, individual scales differ in degree of skewness. The linear T scores in use with the original MMPI preserve these skewness differences. For the MMPI—2, a Uniform T (UT score) transformation has been adopted. Its target distribution is the positively skewed composite (or prototypical) linear T score distribution of MMPI—2 clinical scales. UT scores are percentile comparable, yet, unlike normalized T scores, depart minimally from the familiar linear T scores. The authors describe the UT score derivation, report degree of percentile comparability achieved, and argue that the positive skewness of the UT-score distributions, besides minimizing discontinuity, is conceptually meaningful. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparability of two administration formats of the Keane Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Scale.

Evaluated the utility of administering the 49 items of the Keane MMPI posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) scale (T. M. Keane et al; see record 1985-02913-001) as an instrument separate from the full MMPI. Scores obtained through a separate administration of the PTSD scale were significantly positively correlated with scores obtained through a standard administration of the MMPI. This finding held for both White (n?=?114) and African-American (n?=?61) Ss. Within each ethnic group, mean scores were virtually identical across administration formats. Overall, 94.3% of the veterans were similarly classified on both administrations of the PTSD scale when the recommended cutoff score of 30 was applied. The clinical and research uses of the PTSD scale as a separate instrument are discussed. (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)     

White norms and black MMPIs: A prescription for discrimination?

Indicates distinctive differences between the MMPI scores of blacks and whites. Differences in social desirability ratings of items and disproportionate representation of black-favored items on the key scales partially account for these findings. Education, residence, and cultural separation influence the degree of difference found. However, whether normal or institutionalized, blacks generally obtain higher scores than whites on the Validity, Schizophrenia, and Hypomania scales. Item and factor analyses reveal that these differences represent differences between blacks and whites in values, perceptions, and expectations, rather than differences in level of adjustment. The principal value exhibited by blacks has been labeled distrust of society or social cynicism. Preliminary data is presented from the author's study of white (n = 300) and black (n = 487) job applicants and psychiatric patients. Results suggest that (a) prospective black policemen and hospital attendents are disadvantaged when the MMPI is used for screening and (b) black psychiatric patients are less likely than whites to be diagnosed accurately by the MMPI. Various solutions to this problem are discussed; the most satisfactory approach appears to be construction of an MMPI based on black norms. (35 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implications of differences in elevations of K-corrected and non-K-corrected MMPI T scores.

Presents evidence from the literature that Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) T scores for K-corrected scales tend to be higher than T scores of the same group of persons for corresponding non-K-corrected scales. This seems to be the case not only for psychiatric patients but also for medical patients and normal individuals. The principal implications are that when indexes of pathology are based on the usual cut scores for both K- and non-K-corrected scales, (a) diagnostic decisions based on K-corrected scores may result in more false positives and fewer false negatives than may diagnostic decisions based on non-K-corrected scores, and (b) which type of scale (K-corrected vs non-K-corrected) results in the higher proportion of correct diagnoses in a mixed group should depend in a predictable way on the ratio of normal to abnormal Ss in the group. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Personality assessment as a signal detection task.

Conducted a series of studies with 2 experienced clinicians, 12 undergraduate psychology students who had taken a course in testing, and 8 clinical psychology graduate students to test 3 assumptions that would contribute to making the signal detection model applicable to interpreting MMPI profiles. It was hypothesized that a judge's discriminal process is a sample from a normal distribution of all possible discriminal processes for the MMPI stimulus set; that the standard deviations of 2 distributions of binary MMPI decisions are equal; and that the discriminative capacities of judges remain fixed from one decision session to the next, regardless of instructions. All assumptions were satisfactorily supported. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ethnicity and psychopathology: A meta-analytic review of 31 years of comparative MMPI/MMPI-2 research.

Meta-analyses were performed on 25 comparative Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and MMPI-2 studies of 1,428 male African Americans versus 2,837 male European Americans, 12 studies of 1,053 female African Americans versus 1,470 female European Americans, and 13 studies of 500 male Latino Americans and 1,345 male European Americans. Aggregate effect sizes suggest higher scores for ethnic minority groups than for European Americans on some MMPI/MMPI-2 scales and lower scores on others. However, none of the aggregate effect sizes suggest substantive differences from either a statistical or clinical perspective. The MMPI and MMPI-2 apparently do not unfairly portray African Americans and Latinos as pathological. Effect sizes across studies generally did not vary as a function of sociodemographic variables, research setting, or use of the MMPI versus MMPI-2. It is recommended that additional between- and within-ethnic groups psychopathology research continue. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory T score conversion tables, 1957–1983.

Presents tables to facilitate the transformation of standard Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) linear T score profiles to new MMPI normalized T score profiles (based on contemporary norms, as found by R. C. Collingan et al, 1983), and vice versa. These tables show that (1) the 1983 profiles are consistently less elevated than the corresponding 1957 profile presented by S. R. Hathaway and P. F. Briggs (see record 1959-01273-001) (if the latter are at or above T?=?50); (2) the more deviant a standard 1957 profile, the more this profile differs from its corresponding 1983 profile; and (3) the difference in elevation of 1983 and 1957 T scores for any fixed 1957 T score value varies across MMPI scales. Differences in elevations of 1957 and 1983 profiles of 20 or more T score points are possible when these profiles are generated from the same MMPI raw scores. Implications concerning false positive rates, false negative rates, and profile configurations are presented. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predicting rapid relapse following treatment for chemical dependence: A matched-subjects design.

Explored the prognostic significance of treatment and posttreatment variables on rapid relapse following residential treatment for chemical dependence. 54 persons were identified as 3-month treatment failures by the criteria of 1–3 months of alcohol/drug use in combination with alcohol/drug-related consequences and poor life adjustment. To limit heterogeneity, these persons were matched on MMPI scores with persons who were 3-month outcome successes. Additionally, these MMPI patterns were classified as near normal or indicative of psychiatric symptoms. Multivariate statistics revealed a high level of outcome predictability; continued emotional turmoil (depression, anxiety, and sleep problems) posttreatment was strongly related to failure among the psychiatric MMPI group. Failure to engage in a continuing posttreatment aftercare plan was associated with failure among persons in the near-normal MMPI group. Research approaches that attempt to limit heterogeneity among alcoholics appear to have promise in uncovering powerful prognostic indicators. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

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)     

Comparison of MMPI scores of White and Japanese-American medical patients.

Compared the MMPI scores of 164 patients (mean age 40.3 yrs) classified by sex, diagnostic group (somatization disorder or organic brain syndrome), and race (White or Japanese-American). MANOVA revealed effects for sex and diagnostic group, as well as a sex by race interaction. Male Ss scored significantly higher than females on 9 clinical scales; thus, factors other than race (e.g., sex) appear to be critical in the interpretation of MMPI scores. Implications for the use of the MMPI with non-White patients are discussed. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI and MIT discriminators of biogenic and psychogenic impotence.

Administered the Male Impotence Test (MIT) and the MMPI to 32 17-67 yr old male patients complaining of impotence. Subsequently, the tumescence of these patients was recorded for 1-3 nights. An attempt was made to evaluate the predictive validity of the MIT and the MMPI in discriminating between those who produced normal penile tumescence during sleep and those who did not. Normal nocturnal tumescence was taken to indicate the physiological capacity for achieving arousal and hence was suggestive of psychogenic impotence. Results suggest that the MIT is without value for differentiating between psychogenic and biogenic impotence, whereas 2 rules from the MMPI (Mf scale scores above 60 and one or more scales above a T score of 70) appropriately classified 90% of the cases. The samples of biogenic and psychogenic impotence did not differ, however, in degree or pathology nor was there any specific profile related to either condition. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Faking good and bad adjustment on the MMPI and overcontrolled-hostility in maximum security psychiatric patients.

25 male patients (mean age 29 yrs) in a maximum security psychiatric hospital were administered the MMPI under each of 3 sets of instructions—honest, fake-good adjustment, and fake-bad adjustment. As in an earlier study with inmates by P. Gendreau et al (see record 1973-30226-001), it was found that Ss were able to fake both good and bad adjustment, but that various faking indices were reasonably accurate in detecting both. Overcontrolled-hostility (OCH) scale scores were related to scores on the faking indices, suggesting that high OCH scores may indicate a desire to appear normal on psychological testing. (13 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI T scores: Linear versus normalized.

Discusses the recommendations of R. C. Colligan et al (see record 1980-11023-001), who advised that raw scores on MMPI scales be transformed into normalized T scores (rather than the more traditional linear T scores) for clinical interpretation. The present author questions the advisability of this recommendation, considering the incomparability of normalized scores from distributions with different extremes and the possibility of statistically skewed normalized T distributions. It is concluded that the benefits of the recommended switch would not outweigh its costs. (11 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Relation of level of ego development to type and severity of psychopathology.

Replicated L. R. Vincent and K. R. Vincent's (see record 1980-30574-001) study. Contrary to their findings, the present results with 88 patients administered the MMPI suggest that ego development is not meaningfully predictive of type or severity of psychopathology, and normal comparison samples show distributions of ego level practically similar to those of the clinical sample. It is concluded that in terms of molar relations, ego development and psychopathology appear independent. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

(Hu)man versus mean revisited: MMPI group data and psychiatric diagnosis.

Used a meta-analysis of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) data from 403 control and psychiatric samples to (1) examine demographics associated with previously published MMPI studies, (2) test L. R. Goldberg's (1972) indexes for predicting normal versus deviant and neurotic versus psychotic group membership, (3) compare multiple regression, discriminant function, and logistic regression analyses commonly used to study the relation between the MMPI and diagnostic group membership, and (4) examine the signal within the MMPI as it related to current psychiatric diagnosis. Group data were found to be efficient indicators of the relation between the MMPI and diagnosis, although efficiency is compromised by within-sample heterogeneity. The 3 statistical methods examined obtained equivalent results. Regression models related to group prediction are presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Detecting symptom exaggeration in combat veterans using the MMPI–2 symptom validity scales: A mixed group validation.

Although validity scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI–2; J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) have proven useful in the detection of symptom exaggeration in criterion-group validation (CGV) studies, usually comparing instructed feigners with known patient groups, the application of these scales has been problematic when assessing combat veterans undergoing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) examinations. Mixed group validation (MGV) was employed to determine the efficacy of MMPI–2 exaggeration scales in compensation-seeking (CS) and noncompensation-seeking (NCS) veterans. Unlike CGV, MGV allows for a mix of exaggerating and nonexaggerating individuals in each group, does not require that the exaggeration versus nonexaggerating status of any individual be known, and can be adjusted for different base-rate estimates. MMPI–2 responses of 377 male veterans were examined according to CS versus NCS status. MGV was calculated using 4 sets of base-rate estimates drawn from the literature. The validity scales generally performed well (adequate sensitivity, specificity, and efficiency) under most base-rate estimations, and most produced cutoff scores that showed adequate detection of symptom exaggeration, regardless of base-rate assumptions. These results support the use of MMPI–2 validity scales for PTSD evaluations in veteran populations, even under varying base rates of symptom exaggeration. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age, intelligence, and MMPI F scores.

This study was designed to determine the effects of age, intelligence, and other variables on the F scale, which is critical for Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) interpretation and research. Data consisted of MMPIs and Wechslers obtained from 407 white hospitalized psychiatric patients over a 7-year period. No significant sex differences on MMPI F scores were found. The major result was that F scores decrease with increasing age for low- and high-IQ subjects, but remain relatively constant for average-IQ subjects. Neither diagnosis nor educational level was found to affect F scores. The use of unrestricted distributions of age, intelligence, and F scores may account for the fact that these findings are not consistent with those reported by previous investigators. (21 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)