Liver Transplantation and Abuse of Drugs and Alcohol: A Correlation Between Scales of the MMPI-2.
BACKGROUND
Clinical practice requires an accurate psychological assessment of subjects with clinical history of alcohol abuse and/or substance abuse (abuse history [AH]) for therapeutic choice. This study aims to identify significant correlations between the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2 scales in patients awaiting liver transplantation.


METHODS
We evaluated a personality questionnaire containing MMPI-2 scales in the sample of 308 patients (81.8% males and 18.2% females) awaiting liver transplantation. The AH group composed 44.49% of patients and in the abuse free (AF) group, 55.51%. Scales were compared using Shapiro-Wilk test and Mann-Whitney U test. Interrelationships were examined using Spearman's correlation.


RESULTS
This analysis found 27 scales of the MMPI-2 that were statistically different between 2 groups (AF and AH). In the AH group, we found a significant correlation between the following pairs of scales: Schizophrenia Scale (Sc) with the Addictions Potential Scale, Social Introversion scale (Si) with the Psychopathic Deviate scale (Pd), and Social Discomfort scale with Pd; the ES scale was negatively correlated with the Sc and Si scales. This interim study showed that the understanding of these indicators is crucial both for the assessment accuracy and for a prediction of the degree of therapy compliance after the transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
The scales of the MMPI-2 indicated a marked tendency to emotional rigidity, a lack of self-esteem and susceptibility judgment. Social introversion and social discomfort trends lead to impulsive behavior and deviant actions that combine poorly with good compliance with treatment.
Unit of Psychology, Division of Transplantation, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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Rocco
Unit of Psychology, Division of Transplantation, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: giulia.prinzi@gmail.com.
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Prinzi
Unit of Psychology, Division of Transplantation, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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Campagna
Unit of Psychology, Division of Transplantation, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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Battaglia
Unit of Psychology, Division of Transplantation, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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Barucco
Department of Internal Medicine, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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Polchi
Unit of Clincal and Molecular Epidemiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy.
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Kisialiou
Division of Surgical Oncology and Liver Transplantation, San Camillo Hospital, POIT San Camillo-INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
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Colasanti
Division of Surgical Oncology and Liver Transplantation, San Camillo Hospital, POIT San Camillo-INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
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Felli
Division of Surgical Oncology and Liver Transplantation, San Camillo Hospital, POIT San Camillo-INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
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Lepiane
Division of Surgical Oncology and Liver Transplantation, San Camillo Hospital, POIT San Camillo-INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
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Santoro
Division of Surgical Oncology and Liver Transplantation, San Camillo Hospital, POIT San Camillo-INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
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Vennarecci
Division of Surgical Oncology and Liver Transplantation, San Camillo Hospital, POIT San Camillo-INMI Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy.
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Ettorre
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists