Self-directed hostility and family functioning in normal-weight bulimics and overweight binge eaters.

The aim of this study was to examine whether overweight binge eaters demonstrate similar perceptions of family interactions and views of the self as do normal-weight bulimics. We compared 37 obese binge eaters and 37 normal-weight bulimics to 38 normal-weight non-bulimic controls, and 10 overweight nonbulimic controls on the Bulimia Test (BULIT). Profile of Mood States (POMS), Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB) Short Form, which includes measure of hostility of family interactions and self-directed hostility; the Family Interaction Survey (FIS), and a measure of history of physical and sexual abuse and familial psychopathology. Both normal-weight bulimics and overweight binge eaters differed from nonbulimic controls across all measures of symptomatology, family functioning, history of abuse, familial psychopathology, and self-directed hostility. Normal-weight bulimics demonstrated significantly higher BULIT scores and self-directed hostility than did overweight binge eaters. Post hoc analysis showed that among binge eaters and bulimics, self-directed hostility accounted for a significant percentage of the variance of BULIT scores when controlling for the effects of age, BMI, family hostility, and mood. The possible role of self-directed hostility in the maintenance of bulimic symptomatology is discussed.

Construct validity of the Weigl Color-Form Sorting Test.

This research, conducted on 38 male psychiatric inpatients, replicated previous findings that inability to "shift" conceptual attitude on the Weigl Color-Form Sorting Test is consistent with indices often associated with cortical dysfunction, such as Bender-Gestalt recall, WAIS Similarities subtest scores, and age. Regression analysis yielded a multiple R of .52, with ability to shift predictable from the difference between WAIS Verbal IQ and subjects' age. The relationship between the Weigl and the Hooper approached significance, but that between the Weigl and Trail Making did not. The Weigl might serve as a non-verbal instrument to assess cortical dysfunction where inability to "shift" appears to tap a dysfunction in symbolic reasoning rather than spatial reasoning.

A comparison of the factor structure of the WISC and WISC-R in normal and exceptional groups.

Compared the factor structure of the WISC and WISC-R obtained in samples of children (N = 187) with various neuropsychological diagnoses with that obtained in Kaufman's study of the WISC-R standardization group. The relationships between WISC and WISC-R records scored in a manner consistent with the obtained factor structure, and the interdisciplinary diagnoses assigned children in both groups also were studied. It was found that the WISC and WISC-R factor structure obtained in both the samples including exceptional children was essentially comparable to that reported by Kaufman. Relationships between WISC and WISC-R factor scores and interdisciplinary diagnoses assigned children in both samples were weak, but generally consistent with expectations.

Delinquency and Jesness Inventory Scores.

Investigated validity implications of the Jesness Inventory for institutionalized male adolescent delinquents. This population showed deviant mean T scores on this inventory's Asocial Index (69.5) and on its Social Maladjustment (65.2) subscale. Scores on 4 of the 10 subscales, Social Maladjustment, Value Orientation, Autism, and Manifest Aggression, correlated positively (p less than .0001) with both frequency of prior arrests and number of previous institutionalizations. This pattern of significant relationship is consistent with research reported in other studies and it was concluded that the present results provide additional support for the research and diagnostic uses of this instrument in assessing adolescent social maladjustment.

Rorschach movement and color responses and MMPI social extraversion and thinking introversion personality types.

Results of an analysis of MMPI profiles and Rorschach protocols scored by the Exner method for 100 psychiatric patients provided partial support for Rorschach's hypotheses that perceptions of color (FC, CF, and C) and movement (M) tap separate personality dimensions. First, the proportion of M responses on a protocol correlated significantly (p < .01) to thinking introversion as defined in terms of a subject's MMPI profile similarity to a prototypic MMPI profile with peak PtSc elevations. Second, the proportion of FC responses correlated negatively (p < .01) to social extraversion defined in terms of MMPI profile similarity to a prototypic MMPI profile with peak PdMa elevations. Hence, use of FC signified a socially reserved, controlled behavior. The findings regarding CF and C were inconclusive. Third, color and movement responses did not correlate significantly with somatization defined in terms of similarity to a prototypic MMPI profile with peak Hs, D, Hy elevations. Finally, the nonsignificant correlations of FC with M and with MMPI thinking introversion plus the nonsignificant correlation of M with color responses and MMPI social extroversion further supported the hypotheses that movement and color responses tap essentially unique personality dimensions.

Normalizing the MMPI.

Effective psychological services require recognition of a client's strengths as well as weaknesses. Personality tests such as the MMPI, however, focus attention upon the abnormal and deviant attributes of personality. Therefore, a psychologist should have an understanding of various adaptive behaviors that may be indicated by moderately elevated MMPI scale scores. Because most of the literature deals with the pathological ramifications of scale elevations, the authors developed a conceptual perspective of counterpart descriptors for each MMPI clinical scale. These descriptors are presented so that apparently contradictory sets of behaviors for elevated scores on any given scale can be viewed on a continuum from adaptive to maladaptive behavior. An armamentarium of MMPI personality traits should include positive as well as negative considerations to provide a fully comprehensive basis for the formulation of realistic assessments of human potentialities.

An empirical test of the sociocybernetic model.

A theoretical"sociocybernetic" systems analysis model was tested empirically. Two independent groups completed a questionnaire that described their reactions to four hypothetical interpersonal situations. Half of the persons in each group described their reactions to a friend and used Likert scales to rate the unfavorable/favorableness of their (a) verbal responses and subsequent (b) emotional states. Additionally, they completed similar scale ratings that indicated the expected verbal responses and emotional states of their friend. Persons in the other half of each group completed the same interpersonal simulation exercise except that they were asked to describe an interaction with someone other than a friend. The data elements simulated by the computer were the verbal and emotional response ratings. In this simulation, one perons's output becomes the other person's input and vice versa. Strife scores were defined operationally in terms of the unfavorable (negative) conditions generated in the mathematical simulations. In both groups the mean strife scores for friends were significantly lower than mean strife scores for the other two-person interactions.

A comparison of three neuropsychological tests: the Weigl, Hooper, and Benton.

The accuracy of prediction of brain dysfunction for three neuropsychological tests-the Weigl, the Hooper, and the Benton-was compared. Sixty-six male, veteran, psychiatric inpatients were administered all three tests, and diagnoses of brain dysfunction or intactness were made by their ward psychiatrist, who used neurodiagnostic techniques. The results disclosed that each test alone can predict brain dysfunction significantly better than chance. All chi 2 tests were significant at the .025 level or better. When the Weigl was used as a moderator variable with the Hooper and also with the Benton, the p values for each test were somewhat reduced (p = .005 and .01), an indication of improvement in predictive power. When the percentage of predictive accuracy (hit rates) for the three tests used alone and in combination was analyzed, it was shown that the hit rate is increased by combining the Weigl with the Hooper and also with the Benton. It is increased further by combining all three tests into a predictive index.

Diagnostic implications of markedly elevated MMPI Sc scale scores for nonhospitalized clients.

Evaluated the personal adjustment of counseling center clients (N = 60) whose MMPI's highest scale score was a Sc over 70. Analysis of case notes showed that while these clients posed more difficult counseling problems than the average client, the severity of disturbance was markedly less than one would expect from a sample with a mean Sc score of 91. An exploratory stepwise regression analysis indicated that chronic adjustment correlated significantly, R = .79, to an equation in which Sc, MA, R, DY, and Do had positive coefficients and HY, ES and CN negative coefficients. This regression equation also related significantly to the incidence of role identity problems, p less than .01; counselor judgment of client improvement, p less than .001; and bizarre ideation, p less than .001. Consideration of present client stress and prior adjustment factors was discussed as important in formulating less psychopathological interpretations for MMPI profiles with markedly elevated Sc scores.

MMPI personality type and cognitive flexibility as determined by the Weigl Color-Form Sorting Test in psychiatric patients.

The relationship of cognitive flexibility with MMPI personality type, age, education, and IQ was investigated for a sample of 41 psychiatric inpatients. Cognitive flexibility was measured by the Weigl Color-Form Sorting Test. An index for measuring divergent thinking behavior was obtained from determining the similarity of their admission MMPI profiles to a MMPI prototype profile for divergent (psychotic) ideation using the formula: Divergent thinking = PA + PT + SC - L - K. Results showed that in this sample, cognitive flexibility was related significantly and inversely to the level of divergent thinking (p = .02), but was unrelated to IQ test scores. Supplemental analyses indicated that the level of divergent thinking may mask the established relationship of cognitive flexibility with age and education.

Diagnostic implications of parental ratings of children.

Evaluated parental ratings on aggressiveness and social responsibility for 120 school-age children and a cross-validation sample of 67 children referred to a university-sponsored developmental evaluation center in association with 10 commonly used interdisciplinary diagnoses . Parental ratings consistently and significantly related to staff diagnoses of behavior disorder and to hyperkinesis. A number of "expected " relationships, e.g., between learning disability and social irresponsibility, did not occur. In general, the results indicate: (1) that parental ratings show consistent relationships to selected interdisciplinary staff diagnoses; (2) that hyperkinesis may be related more strongly to aggressiveness than to the lack of socially responsible behavior; and (3) that parental ratings are potentially valuable in the diagnostic process.

Sex offenders: three personality types.

Analyzed by a Q-type factor analysis MMPI profiles of 92 sex offenders institutionalized for psychiatric evaluation, which yielded three basic MMPI profile types. Altogether 88 of the 92 Ss coult be categorized into one of three types characterized by profile peaks on F,Sc; Pd,MA; or D,PD. Analysis of background information, social history items, nature of present crime, primary diagnosis, and ward observations revealed significant differences among the types. Of particular interest was the finding that the primary diagnosis for 85% of the "F,Sc" MMPI type was "no mental disorder" in spite of the fact that this group showed significantly more disturbed behavior on the ward (anxiety, depression, suspicion, and manic excitement) and had uniquely degraded their victims. The fact that two-thirds of these persons who had F scores greater than or equal to 80 and 50% denied the crime may have inadvertently affected diagnostic decisions.

The relationship of MacAndrew alcoholism scale scores to MMPI profile type and degree of elevation.

Collected MMPI data for 38 Caucasian males who were hospitalized in a Veterans Administration alcoholism treatment program. On the basis of a Q-factor analysis, three prototypic profiles were derived, which adequately described 92% of the sample. These profiles were labeled: Type I (scales 1 and 2), Type II (F-K, Scales 4 and 9), and Type III (Scales K, 3 and 4). Type II was found to be correlated positively with scores on the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale. No relationship was found between MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale scores and magnitude of psychological distress, as measured by mean T scores.