title: MMPI scales and subscales: patterns of older, middle-aged, and younger inpatients.
abstract: There has been virtually no research on the relationship of age and MMPI subscales, such as the Harris and Lingoes, Wiggins, Subtle/Obvious, and other specialized subscales. One hundred younger (less than or equal to 39), middle-aged (40-49), and older (greater than or equal to 50) psychiatric inpatients were compared on the basic 13 MMPI scales and 77 MMPI subscales. Results showed that, as a whole, older patients tended to respond more conservatively to these scales, to show less pathology, and to endorse fewer subtle/obvious items than the other age groups. They responded, however, lower on Dominance, on Hostility, and on Social Maladjustment. Later-life patients also endorsed differentially many of the Harris and Lingoes 4 and 6 subscales in the less pathological direction than did the other groups.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis