Validity of MMPI-2 profiles in chronic back pain patients: differences in path models of coping and somatization.
OBJECTIVE
To show clinical utility and empirical validity of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) chronic pain patient subgroups by identification of differential multivariate relationships across groups.


METHODS
This study used structural equation modeling to test cognitive coping strategies and somatization as mediator variables in path models with pain severity and depression used as exogenous (independent) variables and patient's activity level as the final endogenous (dependent) variable, across MMPI-2 profiles.


RESULTS
Hierarchical cluster analysis, performed on a sample of 569 chronic low back patients, resulted in four cluster profiles identifiable as those found in previous work with the MMPI-2 (within normal limits, V-type, neurotic triad, and depressed-pathological). Somatization mediated the relationship between depression and activity level for the neurotic triad group but not the other three groups. A positive linear relationship was found between somatization and depression for the within normal limits, neurotic triad, and depressed-pathological groups, whereas their linear association was negative for the V-type group. Cognitive coping strategies mediated the relationship between depression and activity level for the within normal limits group. In addition, cognitive coping was predictive of activity level for the within normal limits, V-type, and neurotic triad groups but not for the depressed-pathological group.


CONCLUSIONS
Consistent with previous cluster analytic studies, this study replicated four MMPI-2 cluster profile groups in chronic pain patients. These results have also shown that several multivariate relationships between variables are different across MMPI-2 groups, providing evidence for the validity for these MMPI-2 subgroups.
Riley
J L
JL
The Claude Pepper Center for Research of Oral Health in Aging, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA.
Robinson
M E
ME
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006802:Human Activities; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology