The use of the MMPI-2 for the assessment of depressive and psychotic disorders.
Considering the normative changes incorporated into the MMPI-2 and the introduction of content scales, this study examined its usefulness for the diagnosis and assessment of depression and psychosis in a heterogeneous sample of 264 psychiatric inpatients. We examined the mean group profiles and diagnostic efficiency of single scales at specified cutoff scores for these conditions. We also conducted cross-validated stepwise regression using all the basic and content scales as well as hierarchical regression examining the incremental validity of the basic and content scales. In general, the MMPI-2 profiles were found to be sensitive to group differences and the derived regression equations proved to be stable and fairly good at classification; but single scales were less useful for diagnosis. Changes in norms made the MMPI-2 more specific than the MMPI, and the introduction of new content scales offered considerable additional clinical information and incremental validity.
Wetzler
S
S
Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467, USA.
Khadivi
A
A
Moser
R K
RK
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology