title: Comparative accuracy of the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A in the diagnosis of psychopathology in 18-year-olds.
abstract: Both the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2 (MMPI-2) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--Adolescent (MMPI-A) may be administered to 18-year-olds. Each test was administered to 18-year-old participants classified as psychopathology present (PP) or psychopathology absent (PA) to assess (a) the degree of correspondence between the 2 test versions in yielding clinically elevated or nonclinically elevated profiles and (b) the relative accuracy of the 2 test versions in identifying the presence of psychopathology. The 2 tests produced profiles that were inconsistent in clinical elevation status in 70 of 152 participants (46%). All 70 participants with incongruent profiles had clinically elevated MMPI-2 scores and normal-range MMPI-A scores. Analyses of incongruent profiles obtained by PP and PA participants indicated that 18-year-olds were overpathologized by the MMPI-2 and underpathologized by the MMPI-A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Niagara University, New York 14109-2208, USA. tosberg@niagara.edu
authors.forename: Timothy M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Osberg
authors.forename: Danielle L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Poland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology