title: MMPI-2 F scale elevations in adult victims of child sexual abuse.
abstract: The present study assessed whether the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) F scale elevations may reflect genuine trauma-related distress and/or psychopathology, rather than malingering, in a clinical sample of adult child sexual abuse (CSA) victims. Eighty-eight women seeking outpatient treatment for CSA after-effects participated. Self-report measures of dissociation, posttraumatic stress, depression, and family environment individually correlated significantly with F, and collectively accounted for 40% of its variance. Dissociation was the strongest predictor. Findings suggest that high F elevations may reflect genuine problem areas often found among CSA victims, rather than symptom overreporting.
authors.affiliation: Human Services Incorporated of Washington County, Oakdale, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Jill M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Klotz Flitter
authors.forename: Jon D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Elhai
authors.forename: Steven N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Gold
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008306:Malingering / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology