title: DSM-IV Cluster A personality disorder diagnoses among young adults with a 2-7-8 MMPI profile.
abstract: The present study evaluated the presence of DSM-IV personality disorders among young adults from a nonclinical setting who produced an MMPI 2-7-8 profile in comparison to a group of MMPI-defined controls. Categorical and dimensional analyses of personality disorders were evaluated. Participants in the 2-7-8 group (n = 20) received significantly more personality disorder diagnoses than did controls (n = 29), and 85% of these individuals received at least one Cluster A (Paranoid, Schizoid, Schizotypal) diagnosis in contrast to only 6.9% of controls (categorical analysis). The 2-7-8 group also received significantly more Cluster A diagnoses than Cluster B or C diagnoses. When dimensional analyses were applied (subclinical diagnoses), 95% of the 2-7-8 group evidenced Cluster A features. Comorbidity patterns were also evaluated; the most frequent comorbid diagnosis for the 2-7-8 group was Avoidant Personality Disorder (n = 8), consistent with Meehl s (1962, 1989, 1990) conceptualization of schizotypy. These results support the use of the MMPI 2-7-8 profile as an indicator of schizophrenia-related pathology within nonclinical samples of young adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. merritt@psyclops.psych.purdue.edu
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Merritt
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Balogh
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications