Skip to main content
Search
Search
    Quick Search anywhere
    Quick search in Citations
Advanced Search
Skip main navigation
Previous article
Next article
Original Articles

Detecting Comorbid Axis-II Status Among Inpatients Using the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical Scales

Published Online:July 02, 2008https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.24.3.157

Abstract

This study examined the differential diagnostic utility of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical Scales (RCS) and Clinical Scales (CS) in detecting a complex multivariate clinical phenomenon: that is, comorbid Axis-II status in two matched samples of inpatients. Psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with either substance use disorder (n = 43) or major depression (n = 49) were matched on age, sex, and clinical setting, and compared with patients with the same Axis-I disorder and a comorbid personality disorder. Presence or absence of a comorbid personality disorder was chosen to provide a potent test of the differential diagnostic utility of the RCS versus CS when using a highly complex, multivariate criterion variable. Using hierarchical logistic regression analyses, the RCS consistently demonstrated higher diagnostic utility. Moreover, the RCS profiles were significantly more focused and more readily interpretable, relative to the CS profiles that were remarkably similar across disorders. These findings provide further support for the diagnostic and clinical utility of the RCS.

References

  • Arbisi, P.A. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. , McNulty, J.L. (2003). Empirical correlates of common MMPI-2 two-point codes in male psychiatric inpatients. Assessment, 10, 237–247. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Butcher, J.N. , Dahlstrom, W.G. , Graham, J.R. , Tellegen, A. , Kaemmer, B. (1989). MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2): Manual for administration and scoring. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Butcher, J.N. , Graham, J.R. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. (1995). Methodological problems and issues in MMPI, MMPI-2, and MMPI-A research. Psychological Assessment, 7, 320–329. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Butcher, J.N. , Tellegen, A. (1978). Common methodological problems in MMPI research. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 620–628. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Butcher, J.N. , Williams, C.L. (2000). Essentials of MMPI-2 and MMPI-A interpretation (2nd ed.). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Emmelkamp, P.M.G. , Kamphuis, J.H. (2007). Personality disorders. New York: Psychology Press/Taylor & Francis. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Finn, S.E. , Kamphuis, J.H. (2006). The MMPI-2 RC scales and restraints to innovation, or “What have they done to my song?” Comment on the RC scales. Journal of Personality Assessment, 87, 202–210. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • First, M.B. , Spitzer, R.L. , Gibbon, M. , Williams, J.B.W. (1997). Structured Clinical Interview Axis I, DSM-IV disorders – patient edition (SCID-I/P). New York: Biometrics Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Forbey, J.D. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. (2007). A comparison of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) and Clinical Scales in a substance abuse treatment sample. Psychological Services, 4, 46–58. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Graham, J.R. (2006). MMPI-2: Assessing personality and psychopathology. New York: Oxford University Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Greene, R.L. (2000). The MMPI/MMPI-2: An interpretative manual. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Nichols, D.S. (2005, March). The MMPI-2: Contemporary and perennial issues. Handout for presentation at the annual conference of the Society for Personality Assessment (SPA), Chicago. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Nichols, D.S. (2006). The trials of separating bath water from baby: A review and critique of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical scales. Journal of Personality Assessment, 87, 121–138. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Rogers, R. , Sewell, K.W. , Harrison, K.S. , Jordan, M.J. (2006). The MMPI-2 restructured Clinical Scales: A paradigmatic shift in scale development. Journal of Personality Assessment, 87, 139–147. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sellbom, M. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. (2005). Mapping the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) scales onto normal personality traits: Evidence of construct validity. Journal of Personality Assessment, 85, 179–187. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sellbom, M. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. , Graham, J.R. (2006). Correlates of the MMPI-2 restructured clinical (RC) scales in a college counseling setting. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86, 89–99. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Sellbom, M. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. , Graham, J.R. , Arbisi, P.A. , Bagby, R.M. (2005). Susceptibility of the MMPI-2 Clinical, Restructured Clinical (RC), and Content scales to overreporting and underreporting. Assessment, 12, 79–85. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sellbom, M. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. , McNulty, J.L. , Arbisi, P.A. , Graham, J.R. (2006). Elevation differences between the MMPI-2 Clinical and Restructured Clinical (RC) scales: Frequency, origins, and interpretative implications. Assessment, 13, 430–441. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sellbom, M. , Graham, J.R. , Schenk, P. (2006). Incremental validity of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) scales in a private practice sample. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86, 196–205. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Shedler, J. , Westen, D. (2004). Refining personality disorder diagnosis: Integrating science and practice. American Journal of Psychiatry, 161, 1350–1365. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Simms, L.J. , Casillas, A. , Clark, L.A. , Watson, D. , Doebbeling, B.N. (2005). Psychometric evaluation of the restructured Clinical Scales of the MMPI-2. Psychological Assessment, 17, 345–358. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Sloore, H. , Derksen, J. , Hauben, C. (2004, March). Are clinical patients that different from prisoners: A comparison on basis of the MMPI? Paper presentation at the 2004 Society for Personality Assessment, Miami. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tellegen, A. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. , McNulty, J.L. , Arbisi, P.A. , Graham, J.R. , Kaemmer, B. (2003). The MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) scales: Development, validation, and interpretation. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tellegen, A. , Waller, N. (in press). Exploring personality through test construction: Development of the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire. In G.J. Boyle, G. Matthews, D. D., Saklofske (Eds.), Handbook of personality theory and testing, Vol. II: Personality measurement and assessment. London: Sage. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar

  • Tellegen, A. , Ben-Porath, Y.S. , McNulty, J.L. , Arbisi, P.A. , Graham, J.R. , Kaemmer, B. (2006). Further evidence on the validity of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales: Addressing questions raised by Rogers et al. and Nichols. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86, 196–205. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Verheul, R. , Widiger, T.A. (2004). A meta-analysis of the prevalence and usage of the personality disorder not otherwise specified (PD-NOS) diagnosis. Journal of Personal Disorders, 18, 309–319. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Wallace, A. , Liljequist, L. (2005). A comparison of the correlational structures and elevation patterns of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) and Clinical scales. Assessment, 12, 290–294. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Watson, D. , Tellegen, A. (1985). Toward a consensual structure of mood. Psychological Bulletin, 98, 219–235. First citation in articleCrossref, Google Scholar

  • Widiger, T.A. , Sanderson, C.J. (1995). Assessing personality disorders. In J.N. Butcher, (Ed.), Clinical personality assessment: Practical approaches (pp. 380–394). New York: Oxford University Press. First citation in articleGoogle Scholar