Psychometric Properties of the MMPI-3 in a Sample of Black and White American Undergraduate Students: Examining Group Differences and Convergent/Discriminant Validity with the ASEBA Adult Self-Report.

The current study examined MMPI-3 internal and external psychometric properties with a focus on the impact of racialized group membership (Black and White Americans). The second aim was to examine convergent/discriminant MMPI-3 scale associations with a different broadband, hierarchical self-report assessment tool [Adult Self-Report (ASR)]. Consistent with findings on prior MMPI iterations, we expected to observe no clinically meaningful mean differences on MMPI-3 scale T-scores. We hypothesized that validity coefficients between MMPI-3 and ASR scales measuring similar constructs would be stronger (convergent validity) and the inverse for scales measuring disparate constructs (discriminant validity). We also expected coefficient magnitude consistency across racial groups. The final sample was composed of 254 undergraduates (74.4% female; 63.8% White, 36.2% Black). Results suggest 1) MMPI-3 substantive scale mean T-scores are comparable between White and Black American undergraduates; 2) MMPI-3 scales correlate with ASR scale scores in expected ways with regard to internalizing problems, rule breaking and impulsivity, thought problems, and substance use (but not overall externalizing, aggression, attention problems, and intrusiveness); and 3) convergent and discriminant associations between MMPI-3 and ASR scales are consistent across White and Black Americans. This work provides support for MMPI-3 use with racially diverse individuals, considers next steps for understanding MMPI-3 scale score functioning in diverse populations, and provides novel information on MMPI-3 correspondence with the ASR.

Investigating the Validity of the MMPI-3 Eating Concerns (EAT) scale across Men and Women in a University Sample.

Disordered eating is a major health epidemic that occurs at disproportionate rates among young adults and for which gender plays a major role in symptom presentation. Broadband psychological instruments have historically not included disordered eating as a core scale construct. The recent release of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) offers an opportunity to address this shortcoming through the newly developed Eating Concerns Scale (EAT) for which the existing literature is promising but limited. This study expands research on EAT by investigating its validity and comparing findings across gender. In 345 college students (102 men, 243 women), we examined gender differences between men and women in the EAT scale's structure, item endorsement rates, mean scores, and correlations with measures of body image and eating pathology. Differences emerged in item endorsement rate, scale score elevation rate, and correlation magnitudes. Broadly, findings further support EAT's use in detecting eating pathology and highlight ways in which the EAT scale may not effectively capture masculine expressions of eating pathology, namely binging and purging behaviors. To assess eating pathology more comprehensively, clinicians and researchers should consider including assessments of eating pathology inclusive of masculine eating patterns. Limitations and future research directions are also discussed.

Comparing the Validity of MMPI-3 Scores in Prehire Psychological Screenings of Male and Female Police Officer Candidates.

Psychological testing is an important component of the screening process for public safety officers. The use of standardized measures is intended to increase the objectivity of preemployment evaluations, highlighting the importance of examining tests used in these assessments for evidence of differential validity. Differential validity is indicated when a screening measure is unequally associated with, or systematically over- or under-predicts, a criterion across demographic groups. In the current study, we examined for differential validity in Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) scores in a sample of 527 police officer candidates (455 males, 72 females). We first calculated correlations between MMPI-3 scores and job-relevant historical variables. Next, for variable pairings that yielded at least a small effect size, regression models were estimated in a multi-group framework comparing associations between MMPI-3 scores and the historical variables across men and women. The analyses yielded statistical evidence of negligible differential validity across gender in police officer screenings. Implications of these findings and limitations of this study are discussed.

Assessing psychopathic traits with the MMPI-3: Findings from correctional, university, and community samples.

OBJECTIVE: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) instruments have a long history with respect to the assessment of psychopathic personality traits. The most recent version, the MMPI-3, should be in a good position to continue this tradition, and the aim of the current research was to evaluate its scales for this purpose. We examined, on the basis of previous research, how well conceptually relevant MMPI-3 scales mapped onto dominant contemporary psychopathy models: the traditional three-factor model and triarchic psychopathy model. HYPOTHESES: We hypothesized that MMPI-3 markers of internalizing would be negatively correlated with boldness, whereas broad and specific markers of externalizing proclivities would be associated with disinhibition and antisociality. We also hypothesized that egocentricity and callousness would be associated with MMPI-3 scales measuring various features of externalizing, interpersonal aggression/antagonism, and grandiosity. METHOD: We used archival samples of male prison inmates (n = 452), community members with externalizing proclivities (n = 205), and university students (n = 645). These participants completed the Expanded Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale and the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure. RESULTS: Zero-order correlation analyses indicated support for many of our hypotheses across samples, with notable exceptions. Regression and dominance analyses yielded information about the most potent MMPI-3 predictors of each psychopathy domain, with consistency across the three samples. Boldness was associated with low scores on Emotional/Internalizing Dysfunction, Low Positive Emotions, Shyness, and Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism and high scores on Self-Importance and Dominance. For meanness and disinhibition, we found substantial overlap with MMPI-3 scales (e.g., Behavioral/Externalizing Dysfunction, Antisocial Behavior). Meanness was indicated by high Aggression, Cynicism, Aggressiveness, and Disaffiliativeness; disinhibition/antisociality was primarily marked by high Antisocial Behavior, Hypomanic Activation, Impulsivity, and Disconstraint; and Anger Proneness, Aggression, and Cynicism were secondary indicators. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide support for using the MMPI-3 in clinical assessments to corroborate other sources of information regarding psychopathy as well as generate hypotheses for further consideration. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Determining the MMPI-3 SUI scale's cross-sectional and prospective utility in suicide risk assessment.

OBJECTIVE: In-depth suicide risk assessments are particularly important to long-term suicide prevention. Broadband measures of psychopathology, such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) instruments, assess suicide risk factors and various mental health comorbidities. With the recent release of the MMPI-3, the Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI) scale underwent revisions to improve its construct validity and detection of suicide risk factors. Thus, we hypothesized the MMPI-3 SUI scale would demonstrate medium to large associations with suicidal experience and behaviors, future ideation, and interpersonal risk factors of suicide. METHODS: A sample of 124 college students screened for elevated depressive symptoms completed a brief longitudinal study. Participants completed a baseline session including the MMPI-3 and criterion measures and three brief follow-ups every 2 weeks. RESULTS: SUI scores were most robustly associated with increased risk for past suicidal ideation, planning, and perceived burdensomeness. Prospectively assessed suicidal ideation was also meaningfully associated with SUI. SUI scale elevations indicate an increased risk of suicide-related risk factors. CONCLUSION: The MMPI-3 is a valuable tool to inform long-term suicide prevention for those experiencing elevated depressive symptoms as the SUI scale can assess past, current, and future suicide-related risk factors, including suicidal ideation and behaviors.

Incremental Contribution of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 3 to Predicting One-Year Postoperative Spinal Cord Surgery/Spinal Cord Stimulation Outcomes.

Pre-surgical psychological assessments are becoming common in the United States and are recommended or required prior to surgical/spinal cord stimulator intervention for chronic back pain. Psychological testing is often recommended for these evaluations and the various versions of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) have demonstrated utility for predicting outcomes in this setting. This investigation sought to extend that literature with the newest version of the MMPI, the MMPI-3. The sample comprised of 909 patients (50.5% men, 49.5% women) who consented to participating in an outcome study and took the MMPI-3 along with other self-report measures of pain, functional disability, and emotional functioning prior to surgery as part of their pre-surgical psychological assessment. Self-report measures of pain, functional disability, and emotional functioning were administered again one-year following the intervention. MMPI-3 scale scores accounted for up to 9% of additional variance in the outcomes after controlling for pre-surgical measures. Measures of emotional/internalizing dysfunction, somatic dysfunction, and, to a lesser extent, behavioral/externalizing dysfunction contributed the most to the prediction of poorer outcomes.

MMPI-2-RF Profiles of Treatment-Seeking Veterans in a VA Pain Clinic and Associations with Markers of Physical Performance.

Chronic pain is a debilitating condition for many military Veterans and is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in 144 Veterans (88.2% male, mean age = 57.95 years) recruited from a VA outpatient pain clinic and associations with self-reported pain severity, pain-related interference in daily activities, prescription opioid use, and objective metrics of physical performance on tasks impacted by pain (walking, stair climbing, grip strength, indexed by a single latent variable). Among the cohort with valid responses on the MMPI-2-RF (n = 117) and probable PTSD, mean Somatic Complaints (RC1) and Ideas of Persecution (RC6) scores were clinically elevated. All MMPI-2-RF scales were more strongly correlated with self-reported pain interference than severity. Regressions revealed associations between self-rated pain interference (but not pain or PTSD severity) and physical performance scores (ß = .36, p = .001). MMPI-2-RF overreporting Validity and Higher-Order scales contributed incremental variance in predicting physical performance, including Infrequent Psychopathology Responses (ß = .33, p = .002). PTSD severity was associated with prescription opioid use when accounting for the effects of over-reported somatic and cognitive symptoms (odds ratio 1.05, p ≤ .025). Results highlight the role of symptom overreporting and perceptions of functional impairment to observable behaviors among individuals with chronic pain.

The Meaning and Clinical Implications of Low MMPI-3 Self-Importance Scores.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) includes two self-concept-oriented scales: Self-Doubt (SFD), a measure of low self-esteem, and Self-Importance (SFI), a measure of beliefs that one has special attributes and abilities. Past research has demonstrated that SFD and SFI measure related but distinct constructs. The present study focused on explicating the meaning and clinical implications of low SFI scores. Using three clinical samples (private practice and community mental health and private practice neuropsychology clinics), we investigated whether the presence of interpretable low SFI scores (< 39 T) in the context of interpretable SFD elevations (≥ 65 T) is associated with distinctive MMPI-3 findings, and whether low SFI scores add clinically meaningful information in predicting relevant extra-test criteria. Consistent meaningful findings were obtained with respect to implications of low SFI scores for assessment of depression- and social engagement-related constructs. Additionally, the full range of SFI scores was meaningfully and negatively correlated with depressive disorder diagnoses and suicidal ideation but yielded very small correlations with suicide attempt and nonmeaningful correlations with diagnoses of Social Anxiety or Avoidant Personality Disorder. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses showed that SFI scores could meaningfully increment other related MMPI-3 scales in predicting diagnosed depressive disorders, albeit with small effect sizes.

Adapting assessment processes to consider cultural mistrust in forensic practices: An example with the MMPI instruments.

OBJECTIVE: Our first goal in this study was to identify cultural mistrust critical items (CMCIs) on two versions of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-the MMPI-Second Edition-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and MMPI-Third Edition (MMPI-3)-that might be endorsed by people of color because of cultural mistrust rather than clinical paranoia. Our second goal was to determine whether CMCIs and items on the MMPI-2-RF/MMPI-3 Ideas of Persecution scale (Restructured Clinical Scale 6 [RC6]) were endorsed at different rates across cultural groups in a nonclinical college sample and a forensic inpatient sample. HYPOTHESES: Our primary hypothesis was that expert raters would reliably identify a subset of MMPI-2-RF and MMPI-3 items as reflective of cultural mistrust. Black college students would endorse the highest level of CMCIs, followed by Latina/o students, and then White students. We hypothesized that the same pattern of findings would occur in forensic inpatients but that the differences would be attenuated because of the high base rate of psychiatric symptomatology and the nature of the forensic assessment setting. METHOD: Three Black female and three Black male psychologists rated the degree to which each item on the MMPI-2-RF and MMPI-3 reflected cultural mistrust. Black (n = 90), Latina/o (n = 83), and White (n = 100) college students were compared on CMCIs and on MMPI-2-RF/MMPI-3 RC6 item endorsement. The same comparisons were made among Black (n = 221), Latina/o (n = 142), and White (n = 483) forensic inpatients who completed the MMPI-2-RF. RESULTS: Black college students endorsed the highest levels of cultural mistrust, followed by Latina/o students, and then White students, resulting in small-to-medium effect sizes (Hedges's gs = 0.14-0.52). Although we observed some item-level differences in forensic patients, the overall pattern of item endorsement did not significantly differ in this group. CONCLUSIONS: There are multiple reasons for the reporting of clinical paranoia and cultural mistrust in forensic assessment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Assessing posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 in a forensic disability sample.

OBJECTIVE: Previous evidence indicates that scales from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) family of instruments can measure self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomology and differentiate symptom clusters, including in forensic disability assessments. However, limited research has examined assessment of PTSD symptoms with the MMPI-3, the most recent MMPI instrument. The goal of the current study was to identify the strongest MMPI-3 scale predictors of individual PTSD symptom clusters, measured via self-report. METHODS: Using a sample of 716 disability claimants (54.2% men; Mage = 42.98, SD = 10.87; 81.8% White), correlation, regression, and dominance analyses were performed to examine associations between scores on MMPI-3 scales and latent PTSD symptom cluster factors derived using confirmatory factor analyses from items of the Detailed Assessment of Posttraumatic Stress (DAPS), and to identify the strongest predictor of each symptom cluster when MMPI-3 scales were concurrently considered. RESULTS: Results indicate that conceptually expected MMPI-3 scale scores were meaningfully associated with PTSD symptom cluster factors, with the MMPI-3 Anxiety-Related Experiences (ARX) scale demonstrating the strongest and most consistent associations across symptom clusters. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current study largely converge with previous empirical studies of self-reported PTSD symptoms in disability claimant settings with the MMPI instruments. Interpretive implications for the MMPI-3, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Examination of the Reliability and Validity of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) in a Preoperative Bariatric Surgery Sample.

Presurgical psychological assessment of bariatric surgery candidates aims to identify psychosocial risk factors and provide treatment recommendations to facilitate optimal outcomes. Such assessment typically includes psychometric testing and a clinical interview. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been commonly used as a broadband measure to assess a number of psychosocial domains in bariatric clinics. The newest version of the MMPI, the MMPI-3, was recently released. This study sought to (1) establish whether the MMPI-3 is comparable to the MMPI-2-RF in a sample of patients seeking bariatric surgery, (2) report reliability data for all MMPI-3 scale scores in this sample, and (3) explore associations between commonly used self-report symptom measures and substantive scales of the MMPI-3 to ascertain convergent and discriminant validity patterns. Six hundred and thirty-five presurgical patients completed the MMPI-3 in addition to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption (AUDIT-C), and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). The majority (79.1%) of the sample was female, 65.5% was white, and 26.6% was Black. Scores on most of the MMPI-3 Emotional/Internalizing Dysfunction scales were meaningfully associated with the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and most EDE-Q subscales (except for Restraint). Meaningful discriminant patterns were observed as well. We conclude that the substantive scales of the MMPI-3 are reliable, comparable to their MMPI-2-RF counterparts, and evidence good convergent validity with extra-test measures assessing depression, anxiety, alcohol use, and eating disorder psychopathology in a preoperative bariatric sample.

Assessment tools for complex post traumatic stress disorder: a systematic review.

Appropriate screening tools are required to accurately detect complex post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). This systematic review aimed to assess and compare measurement tools. A literature search using key words 'complex post traumatic stress disorder', 'PTSD', and 'assessment' was undertaken on Embase and PsychINFO during February 2022 by two reviewers. Inclusion criteria included full text papers between 2002-2022 which evaluated CPTSD using assessment tools. Exclusion criteria included reviews, editorials, meta-analyses, or conference abstracts. Twenty-two papers met selection criteria. Thirteen studies used the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ). Two studies each evaluated CPTSD with the International Trauma Interview (ITI) or Symptoms of Trauma Scale (SOTS). The Developmental Trauma Inventory (DTI), Cameron Complex Trauma Interview (CCTI), Complex PTSD Item Set additional to the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (COPISAC), Complex Trauma Questionnaire (ComplexTQ), and Scale 8 of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Scale (MMPI) were used by a single study each. The ITQ was the most thoroughly investigated, validated across different populations, and is a convenient questionnaire for screening within the clinical setting. Where self-report measures are inappropriate, the ITI, SOTS, and COPISAC are interview tools which detect CPTSD. However, they require further validation and should be used alongside clinical history and examination.

Validated and reliable screening tools are required to accurately detect and manage complex post traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD)The International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) is the most thoroughly investigated, validated across different populations, and is a freely available and convenient tool for screening within clinical settingsIn circumstances where self-report measures are inappropriate, the ITI, SOTS, and COPISAC are interview tools which detect CPTSD, but require further validation and should be used alongside clinical history and examinationFurther research is needed to ensure appropriate assessment tools for the detection and diagnosis of CPTSD are available.

Hypochondriasis and Personality Traits of Patients with Chronic Plaque Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Plaque psoriasis has been associated with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation and various personality traits. However, studies on hypochondriasis, i.e. the belief of serious illness despite having no or only mild symptoms, are currently scarce. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess hypochondriasis and personality traits in psoriasis patients using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). METHODS: We conducted an observational study on patients with plaque psoriasis who underwent MMPI-2 testing. Demographic and clinical data, including comorbidities, alcohol consumption, and smoking, were collected. RESULTS: A total of 136 consecutive psoriatic patients were included. The mean age (±SD) was 53.7 (±13.5), mean PASI (Psoriasis Area Severity Index) was 12.4 (±9.9), and mean disease duration was 23.3 (±15.7) years. Pathologically elevated scores in the Hypochondriasis scale were observed in 27.9% of patients. Furthermore, in a few other MMPI-2 scales (Anxiety, Fears and Negative Treatment Indicators) ≥25% of patients obtained pathologically elevated scores. Conversely, the scales that had the highest proportion of low scorers were Ego Strength and Dominance. At regression analysis, higher psoriasis severity and female gender were associated with higher scores in the Hypochondriasis scale (p = 0.03 and 0.001). Finally, 72.8% reported any alcohol consumption and 8.1% heavy alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION: About one third of patients with psoriasis have high scores in the MMPI-2 hypochondriasis evaluation scale. Poor individual coping resources also appeared to be distinctive psychological features in a significant proportion of psoriatic patients.

Self-Perceived Stress Is Associated With Chest Pain and Personality in Patients With Refractory Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

ABSTRACT: Stressful events are frequently associated with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). This study aims to determine if the severity of self-perceived stress is associated with specific FGID and personality characteristics in 822 patients with FGID who have filled a Rome III questionnaire, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2), and a 10-point Likert scale for self-perceived stress. According to stress severity, the patients were divided into three groups: low (<4; n = 183), moderate (4-6; n = 283), and severe stress (>6; n = 356). Female sex was more frequent in the severe stress group than in the low stress group (p = 0.001). Stress severity was strongly correlated with the two MMPI-2 posttraumatic stress scales. Clinically, chest pain was more frequently reported by severe stress patients than moderate stress patients. MMPI-2 clinical scales vary significantly according to the severity of stress, and "mild stress" patients have increased hysteria and depression scales and showed a higher frequency of irritable bowel syndrome-diarrhea. This study shows that severe stress severity is associated with a higher frequency of noncardiac chest pain and correlated with most personality items.

Identifying the risk of opioid misuse in a chronic pain population: the utility of the MMPI-2-RF personality psychopathology five (PSY-5-RF) and higher-order scales.

Prescription-related opioid misuse, especially in chronic pain populations, is an ongoing problem and is related to increased mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of two restructured scales of the MMPI-2-RF: the Personality Psychopathology Five (PSY-5-RF) and the Higher-Order Scales to determine which of their subscales may be beneficial for identifying the risk of opioid misuse in a chronic pain population. A sample of 136 patients with chronic disabling occupational musculoskeletal disorders completed the MMPI-2-RF and the Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) upon admission to a functional restoration program. The PSY-5-RF and H-O subscales were correlated with the baseline COMM scores. Correlation analyses, ROC curve analyses, and multiple binary logistic regression models were developed to determine which subscales were most associated with elevated COMM scores. The results of the regression analyses suggest that Scale elevations on two of the PSY-5-RF Scales and two Higher-Order Scales of the MMPI-2-RF demonstrated significant associations with elevated COMM scores, thus exhibiting the utility of these subscales in identifying the risk of opioid misuse among chronic pain patients. These findings are clinically meaningful in underscoring the importance of identifying specific personality traits as potential predictors of opioid misuse, and identifying those at risk through careful screening. Clinical implications based on each of the PSY-5-RF and H-O scales significantly associated with elevated COMM scores are discussed.

Development of an MMPI reference group for outpatients with persisting symptoms following mild TBI.

OBJECTIVE: To develop an MMPI-2-RF reference group for persistently symptomatic patients with mTBI in order to aid interpretation and better evaluate atypical scale elevations. METHOD: Using the Q Local MMPI-2-RF Comparison Group Generator (CGG), 200 valid MMPI-2-RF profiles were aggregated for mTBI outpatients with persisting symptoms 2-24 months post injury. RESULTS: Compared to established MMPI general population norms, individuals with persisting symptoms demonstrated elevations on several scales, primarily in cognitive and somatic domains. T scores > 60 and standard deviations > 10 were observed for the F-r (Infrequent Responses), Fs (Infrequent Somatic Responses), FBS-r (Symptom Validity), RBS (Response Bias Scale), RC1 (Somatic Complaints), MLS (Malaise), HPC (Head Pain Complaints), NUC (Neurological Complaints), and COG (Cognitive Complaints) scales. All other scales were consistent with established norms for the general population. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to establish an empirically derived MMPI reference group for individuals with persisting symptoms following mTBI. By comparing MMPI profiles of patients with mTBI against this reference group, clinicians may be better able to identify abnormal symptomatology. Evaluating profiles within this context may allow for more accurate case conceptualization and targeted treatment recommendations for those patients who demonstrate disproportionate symptomatology outside the range of the mTBI reference group.

Assessing Physical Pain Perception and Psychological Distress Tolerance through the MMPI-2-RF: A Comparison of Multimethod Measures.

While transdiagnostic factors are important domains in clinical assessment and treatment, there is little research to link such constructs to widely accepted and utilized broadband assessments such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, 2nd edition - Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). A handful of studies suggest the ability of the MMPI-2-RF scales to capture variance in transdiagnostic constructs; however, this literature relies solely on self-report criterion measures, despite evidence that self-report and behaviorally-indexed correlates of psychopathology may measure varied aspects of the intended construct and can often yield differing results. The current study investigated MMPI-2-RF scales' ability to assess two widely examined transdiagnostic constructs, distress tolerance and pain perception, across both self-report and behavioral indicators. The sample included 115 undergraduate students who completed a valid MMPI-2-RF and multimethod measures of pain perception and distress tolerance. The results aligned with prior research in areas of internalizing symptoms, psychopathy, and suicide risk factors in self-report, but not behaviorally-based, assessment. Implications of this inconsistency, the association between clinical assessment and transdiagnostic constructs, and the heterogeneity of the distress tolerance and pain perception constructs are discussed.

Using the MMPI-3 in Legal Settings.

In this paper, we review the historical evolution of the MMPI instruments, consider the empirical foundations for its use in Forensic Mental Health Assessments (FMHAs) with particular emphasis on the applicability of MMPI-2-RF research to these evaluations, and identify ways in which the inventory can be effectively but also inappropriately used in these assessments. We also review appellate court decisions related to forensic uses of the MMPI and discuss implications for cross-examination on MMPI-3-based testimony, emphasizing the need for forensic practitioners to be familiar with the empirical research available to guide MMPI-3 use in FHMAs. We identify areas needing further research, including the utility of the test in assessments of persons of color, investigations of the applicability of MMPI-3 results in various specific forensic assessments and rehabilitative applications, and further research on implications of the new English and Spanish-language norms. Potential contributions of studies using the updated MMPI-3 scales in descriptive research on forensic populations are also discussed. We conclude that when used properly to assess for evidence of invalid responding that may affect FMHAs, or psychological functioning relevant to answering psycho-legal referral questions, the MMPI-3 rests on solid empirical foundations that can withstand the scrutiny inherent in forensic evaluations.

Measurement of Eating Pathology Using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3).

Eating disorders are prevalent among college student populations. Although previous iterations of the instrument did not include specific measurement of eating pathology, the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory-3 (MMPI-3) now includes a specific scale (i.e., Eating Concerns [EAT]) to assess problematic eating behaviors. The current study examined the MMPI-3 assessment of eating pathology among 249 undergraduate women. A pattern emerged where symptoms of internalizing psychopathology on the MMPI-3 were generally associated with symptoms of eating disorder. However, the newly included EAT scale demonstrated the strongest associations with most areas of eating dysfunction. Further, hierarchical regression analyses suggested that the EAT scale added substantial incremental predictive utility (up to 23%) over other MMPI-3 scales combined in assessing eating pathology. Classification accuracy statistics yielded high sensitivity and specificity coefficients when predicting eating disorder risk at an EAT scale score cutoff of 75 T or higher. These findings support the use of the MMPI-3 in assessing eating pathology in college women, although its performance with men and with women not of college age remains to be studied.

Detecting symptom exaggeration and minimization using translated versions of the MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF: A systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of translated versions of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) and the MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in detecting response distortion (i.e., symptom exaggeration and minimization), a central concern in forensic assessment. HYPOTHESES: We hypothesized that translated versions of the MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF would generate significantly weaker effect sizes in detecting response distortion than those observed with English-language studies. METHOD: We identified 26 studies, representing seven language translations of the MMPI-2 (k = 20) and two of the MMPI-2-RF (k = 6). We calculated effect sizes (Cohen's ds) based on the mean score difference between honest and nongenuine responders for each study on each symptom exaggeration (e.g., F/F-r, Fp/Fp-r) and minimization (e.g., L/L-r, K/K-r) scale examined, along with mean effect size estimates (Hedges' g) for the Spanish and Italian translations (no other translation had more than two published studies). RESULTS: Spanish-language studies generally produced large (d ≥ 1.25) to very large (d ≥ 1.75) effect sizes when detecting both symptom exaggeration and minimization. Italian-language studies generally produced small to moderate effect sizes when detecting symptom exaggeration and predominately moderate (d ≤ 1.25) effect sizes when detecting minimization. Significant variability within and across scales was observed in both Spanish-language and Italian-language studies. Most studies utilizing a translated version of the MMPI-2 other than Spanish or Italian produced very large (d ≥ 1.75) effect sizes when detecting symptom exaggeration and weaker (d ≤ 1.00) effect sizes when detecting minimization. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review and preliminary meta-analysis demonstrated effect sizes that overlapped with those observed in English-language studies. Although clearly preliminary, given the limited published research to date, these data suggest that the MMPI instruments retain some utility in detecting response distortion when translated. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).