Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent-Restructured Form (MMPI-A-RF) characteristics of ADHD in a Korean psychiatric sample.

Global rates of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have risen. In Korea, ADHD is associated with functional impairments and comorbidity with other psychological disorders. This study examined the correlates of ADHD in a psychiatric sample of Korean adolescents on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent-Restructured Form (MMPI-A-RF). In a clinical sample of 247 adolescents, MMPI-A-RF scores from 46 patients diagnosed with ADHD were compared to the remainder of the clinical sample and to the Korean MMPI-A-RF norms. Results demonstrated significantly different scores for the ADHD group on scales indicating externalizing concerns and behavior dysfunction compared with the clinical group with other disorders and to a normative sample. Notable differences were also observed between clinical groups on scales reflecting interpersonal functioning. Relative risk ratio analyses demonstrated that an MMPI-A-RF T-score of 55 was generally most effective for predicting risk for an ADHD diagnosis in the clinical sample.

Evaluating the Measurement Invariance of MMPI-2-RF Restructured Clinical Scale 4 (Antisocial Behavior) between American and Korean Clinical Samples: Exploring Cultural and Translation Issues Affecting Item Responding.

Establishing the cross-cultural measurement invariance of psychometric scales is considered an essential step before scale means are compared across cultures. Although the MMPI instruments have been extensively researched, few studies have examined the measurement equivalence of MMPI scales in cross-cultural research. This study examined the measurement invariance of MMPI-2-RF Restructured Clinical Scale 4 (RC4; Antisocial Behavior) using multi-group confirmatory factor analysis with American and Korean clinical samples by (a) comparing a rationally-derived four-factor model (School Problems, Substance Abuse, Family Problems, and Violation of Social Norms) with a one-factor model, and (b) examining the measurement invariance of the RC4 four-factor model. After adjusting for age and gender, partial scalar invariance was achieved, and six non-invariant items were identified, most of which centered around substance abuse. Results support the generalizability of the four factors across cultures; however, special attention is needed when using substance abuse items with Korean clinical populations. Plausible sources of item non-invariance were explored in the context of translation challenges and observed patterns of relationship with external measures.

Assessment of prescription stimulant misuse among college students using the MMPI-2-RF.

Prescription stimulant misuse (PSM) is a growing concern on college campuses and more research is needed to validate clinical measures commonly used for the assessment of risk for PSM among college students. The present study examined correlations between scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) and self- and peer-reported misuse of prescription stimulants and other drugs in a sample of 96 pairs (included within a total N = 212) of undergraduate students. Nearly half of the participants (48%) reported that they had been offered prescription stimulants and one quarter (26%) reported trying someone else's prescription stimulant medications, often to perform better academically. Scores on the MMPI-2-RF scales designed to measure general substance misuse (Substance Abuse [SUB]) and related behavioral or externalizing constructs (e.g., Antisocial Behavior [RC4], Behavioral/Externalizing Dysfunction [BXD], and Disconstraint-Revised [DISC-r]), were correlated positively with both self- and peer-reported prescription stimulant misuse (rs = 0.45-0.66), as well as with problematic use of other drugs (rs = 0.44-0.63). MMPI-2-RF scales designed to measure constructs in the domains of Emotional/Internalizing, Somatic/Cognitive, and Thought Dysfunction, as well as Interpersonal Functioning, had weaker correlations with misuse of prescription stimulants (rs < 0.24) and other drugs (rs < 0.29). These results provide support for the convergent validity of the MMPI-2-RF with regard to the assessment of prescription stimulant misuse and general drug misuse among college students.

A Comparison of the Descriptive Information from the MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF.

Do MMPI-2 or MMPI-2-RF profiles differ in how accurately they depict examinees? To explore this question, we examined differences in clinical descriptions of equivalent profiles from the two instruments. Fourteen valid MMPI-2 protocols from an archival private practice sample were scored as both the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-2-RF. The resulting 28 profiles were coded separately by four raters using the Midwestern Q-Sort. Examinee descriptions from the two instruments were compared in terms of their (a) similarity, operationalized by q-correlations between corresponding MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF ratings; (b) descriptive validity, operationalized by correlations with q-sorts provided by the examinees' therapists; and (c) incremental descriptive validity, operationalized by incremental prediction of the therapist q-sorts by the MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF, one over the other. Descriptions from corresponding MMPI-2 and MMPI-2-RF score reports were highly intercorrelated. Ratings from both were valid predictors of therapist descriptions, and neither clearly outperformed the other in terms of incremental validity.

Methodological and statistical advances in the consideration of cultural diversity in assessment: A critical review of group classification and measurement invariance testing.

One of the most important considerations in psychological and educational assessment is the extent to which a test is free of bias and fair for groups with diverse backgrounds. Establishing measurement invariance (MI) of a test or items is a prerequisite for meaningful comparisons across groups as it ensures that test items do not function differently across groups. Demonstration of MI is particularly important in assessment settings where test scores are used in decision making. In this review, we begin with an overview of test bias and fairness, followed by a discussion of issues involving group classification, focusing on categorizations of race/ethnicity and sex/gender. We then describe procedures used to establish MI, detailing steps in the implementation of multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, and discussing recent developments in alternative procedures for establishing MI, such as the alignment method and moderated nonlinear factor analysis, which accommodate reconceptualization of group categorizations. Lastly, we discuss a variety of important statistical and conceptual issues to be considered in conducting multigroup confirmatory factor analysis and related methods and conclude with some recommendations for applications of these procedures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

A comparative evaluation of Korean MMPI-A and MMPI-A-RF Substance Abuse Scales.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to compare psychometric properties of the Substance Abuse (SUB) Scale on the Korean Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent-Restructured Form (MMPI-A-RF) with those on the Korean MMPI-A (the Alcohol/Drug Problem Acknowledgment Scale [ACK]), the Alcohol/Drug Problem Proneness Scale [PRO], and the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised Scale [MAC-R]). METHOD: Participants consisted of 237 Korean adolescent psychiatric patients whose scores on these measures were compared in terms of internal consistency and predictive validity. RESULTS: Scores on SUB exhibited superior internal consistency to that of the MMPI-A substance abuse scales. Further, scores on SUB predicted substance abuse more accurately than did the optimal combination of scores on the MMPI-A substance abuse scales. CONCLUSION: Results provide strong support for the use of the Korean MMPI-A-RF SUB scale when assessing substance abuse in Korean youth.

The role of common method variance in MMPI-2-RF response option augmentation.

Several studies have shown that response option augmentation (ROA), or increasing the number of response options of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-2-RF, improves the reliability of scale scores but does not improve convergent validity. However, these studies have not taken into account the response format of criterion measures, which may represent a form of common method variance (CMV). This study examined ROA with the MMPI-2-RF to determine whether number of response options is a source of CMV that may have affected previous estimates of convergent validity. The study used a repeated measures design with self-report and informant-report measures to examine differences between reliability and validity on scores from ROA and standard dichotomous MMPI-2-RF RC scales. Results replicate those of previous studies, suggesting that ROA with the MMPI-2-RF leads to small increases in internal consistency, but near-zero gains in convergent validity. Results are unable to support the proposition that CMV, due either to respondent or number of response options, meaningfully inflates correlations between measures with identical number of response options. These results consistently showing no meaningful increase in convergent validity across several studies may have implications for test authors deciding on the number of response options. Limitations and future directions are also discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Interpretive Reliability of Six Computer-Based Test Interpretation Programs for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2.

The reliability of six Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second edition (MMPI-2) computer-based test interpretation (CBTI) programs was evaluated across a set of 20 commonly appearing MMPI-2 profile codetypes in clinical settings. Evaluation of CBTI reliability comprised examination of (a) interrater reliability, the degree to which raters arrive at similar inferences based on the same CBTI profile and (b) interprogram reliability, the level of agreement across different CBTI systems. Profile inferences drawn by four raters were operationalized using q-sort methodology. Results revealed no significant differences overall with regard to interrater and interprogram reliability. Some specific CBTI/profile combinations (e.g., the CBTI by Automated Assessment Associates on a within normal limits profile) and specific profiles (e.g., the 4/9 profile displayed greater interprogram reliability than the 2/4 profile) were interpreted with variable consensus (α range = .21-.95). In practice, users should consider that certain MMPI-2 profiles are interpreted more or less consensually and that some CBTIs show variable reliability depending on the profile.

Diagnostic reliability of MMPI-2 computer-based test interpretations.

Reflecting the common use of the MMPI-2 to provide diagnostic considerations, computer-based test interpretations (CBTIs) also typically offer diagnostic suggestions. However, these diagnostic suggestions can sometimes be shown to vary widely across different CBTI programs even for identical MMPI-2 profiles. The present study evaluated the diagnostic reliability of 6 commercially available CBTIs using a 20-item Q-sort task developed for this study. Four raters each sorted diagnostic classifications based on these 6 CBTI reports for 20 MMPI-2 profiles. Two questions were addressed. First, do users of CBTIs understand the diagnostic information contained within the reports similarly? Overall, diagnostic sorts of the CBTIs showed moderate inter-interpreter diagnostic reliability (mean r = .56), with sorts for the 1/2/3 profile showing the highest inter-interpreter diagnostic reliability (mean r = .67). Second, do different CBTIs programs vary with respect to diagnostic suggestions? It was found that diagnostic sorts of the CBTIs had a mean inter-CBTI diagnostic reliability of r = .56, indicating moderate but not strong agreement across CBTIs in terms of diagnostic suggestions. The strongest inter-CBTI diagnostic agreement was found for sorts of the 1/2/3 profile CBTIs (mean r = .71). Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Gender differences on the MMPI across American and Korean adult and adolescent normative samples.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether gender differences on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A; Butcher et al., 1992) items are comparable across 2 distinctive cultural samples: Americans and Koreans. Using large, representative adult and adolescent samples from both cultures, we found that the American samples were associated with a higher proportion of items with gender differences than the Korean samples. The American adult sample produced gender differences on a higher proportion of items than did the American adolescent sample, but no such age difference was found between the Korean samples. Despite these differences between cultures and between age groups, content dimensions underlying items with gender differences were very similar across cultures and age groups, centering on stereotypical gender interests, behaviors, and emotions.

Effects of augmenting response options on MMPI-2 RC scale psychometrics.

A number of empirical investigations indicate that tests with a greater number of response options tend to yield better psychometric performance. We hypothesized that a version of the MMPI-2 with a polytomous response format would outperform the standard dichotomous format in terms of observed score reliability and validity. Two versions of the MMPI-2 RC scales were administered consecutively in counterbalanced order to 199 undergraduate students attending a large Midwestern university: the standard true-false version, and an experimental version containing 4 response options (very true, mainly true, slightly true, and false, not at all true). After participants completed both versions, 2 scales from the multidimensional personality questionnaire (MPQ) were administered to assess differences in convergent validity. Results showed enhancements in reliability for all RC scale scores and increases in the convergent validity of scores. Directions for further investigation and potential implications for future test development are discussed.

Development and validation of the Delaying Gratification Inventory.

Deficits in gratification delay are associated with a broad range of public health problems, such as obesity, risky sexual behavior, and substance abuse. However, 6 decades of research on the construct has progressed less quickly than might be hoped, largely because of measurement issues. Although past research has implicated 5 domains of delay behavior, involving food, physical pleasures, social interactions, money, and achievement, no published measure to date has tapped all 5 components of the content domain. Existing measures have been criticized for limitations related to efficiency, reliability, and construct validity. Using an innovative Internet-mediated approach to survey construction, we developed the 35-item 5-factor Delaying Gratification Inventory (DGI). Evidence from 4 studies and a large, diverse sample of respondents (N = 10,741) provided support for the psychometric properties of the measure. Specifically, scores on the DGI demonstrated strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability for the 35-item composite, each of the 5 domains, and a 10-item short form. The 5-factor structure fit the data well and had good measurement invariance across subgroups. Construct validity was supported by correlations with scores on closely related self-control measures, behavioral ratings, Big Five personality trait measures, and measures of adjustment and psychopathology, including those on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. DGI scores also showed incremental validity in accounting for well-being and health-related variables. The present investigation holds implications for improving public health, accelerating future research on gratification delay, and facilitating survey construction research more generally by demonstrating the suitability of an Internet-mediated strategy.

Validation of a Korean MMPI-2 Hwa-Byung scale using a Korean normative sample.

The psychometric properties of a recently developed measure of Hwa-Byung (HB), a Korean culture bound syndrome, using an updated version of the Korean Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, were examined in Korean normative sample. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that both the first-order four-factor model and the single second-order factor model fit the data well, but the latter may be superior because of its parsimony. The HB scale correlated modestly with age, sex, SES, and problems with family and finance. However, it showed substantial correlations with spouse ratings items that were identified a priori as prospective HB correlates, indicating excellent concurrent validity. The limitations of the study and the need for future studies employing HB patients were discussed.

Rethinking volunteer management using a centralized volunteer staging and training area.

Public health agencies simply do not have enough trained staff or volunteers to effectively respond to a large-scale disaster. Training volunteers "off the street" will be crucial--but time consuming--in a public health emergency. A centralized volunteer staging and training area can help to efficiently register, credential, and conduct just-in-time training of volunteers, while reducing stress, confusion, traffic congestion, and security issues at various mass dispensing clinics.

Development of a scale to assess Hwa-Byung, a Korean culture-bound syndrome, using the Korean MMPI-2.

This study documents the development of an MMPI-2 scale designed to assess features of the Korean culture-bound syndrome, Hwa-Byung (HB). An American research team and psychiatric practitioners in Korea created an 18-item HB scale via rational item selection and psycho-metric refinement. Principal components analysis of scale items revealed four components, reflecting content domains of general health, gastrointestinal symptoms, hopelessness, and anger. This four-component solution applied well to both Korean men and women, but not to an American sample. Although some findings were encouraging, future studies employing clinical samples are needed to provide further validation of this scale.

Syndromal complexity, paradigm shifts, and the future of validation research: comments on Nichols and Rogers, Sewell, Harrison, and Jordan.

In this comment, I address a number of the points raised in the reviews of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC; Tellegen et al., 2003) Scales by Nichols (2006/this issue) and Rogers, Sewell, Harrison, and Jordan (2006/this issue), and I advocate for changes in assessment validation research. There is little evidence that the "syndromal complexity" Nichols ascribes to the original MMPI-2 (Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) Clinical Scales is worth preserving. Although their construction does not constitute the paradigm shift claimed by Rogers et al., the RC Scales are promising, psychometrically defensible measures of core features of the original MMPI-2 Clinical Scales. However, validation of inferences from multiscale inventories such as the MMPI-2 is limited at present by a disconnection between the integrative manner in which MMPI-2 profiles are interpreted and the scale-by-scale nature of most MMPI-2 validation studies. Q-sort procedures show promise for operationalizing integrated MMPI-2 interpretations, with both research and teaching applications.

The current status of malaria in Louisiana.

Between 1992 and 2004, 118 cases of malaria were reported to the Louisiana Office of Public Health. Case surveillance data were collected in response to these case reports. These data are presented and analyzed here. All cases reported in Louisiana were imported from malaria-endemic regions. Despite the fact that malaria is a preventable and treatable disease, deaths due to malaria continue to occur. Counseling for travelers to malaria-endemic areas needs to be improved. In particular, region-specific prophylaxis guidelines published by the CDC are infrequently implemented. A travel history should be elicited from all patients who present with fever in the United States. If a history of travel to malaria-endemic areas is present, blood films should be obtained and examined for malaria parasites.

Relative user ratings of MMPI-2 computer-based test interpretations.

There are eight commercially available computer-based test interpretations (CBTIs) for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), of which few have been empirically evaluated. Prospective users of these programs have little scientific data to guide choice of a program. This study compared ratings of these eight CBTIs. Test users were randomly assigned to rate either a single authentic CBTI report on one of their clients or a single CBTI report generated from a modal MMPI-2 profile for their clinical setting. In all, 257 authentic and modal CBTI reports were rated by 41 clinicians on 10 dimensions. Each of the authentic reports received substantially higher ratings than the modal reports, with ratings of perceived accuracy and opinion confirmation best differentiating between authentic and modal reports. Automated Assessment Associates' report received the highest overall ratings; reports published by Western Psychological Services, Pearson Assessments, and the Caldwell Report were also distinguished on one or more ratings dimensions.

Collaborative community empowerment: an illustration of a six-step process.

This article illustrates a method used in a community empowerment project where community members and university facilitators collaborated to increase the capacity of the community. The method may have practical uses in collaborations with community groups. The six-step process enabled the community groups to accomplish their short-term community goals: developing effective after-school programs and resolving problems of damaged homes and blighted properties in a relatively short time and continuing on their collaborative work. Having a social ecological model as a conceptual framework was helpful for the community to assess their status and develop action plans. Consistent community meetings, open communication, focused community leadership, community networking, and collaboration of community organizations and a university were the factors that reinforced the empowerment process. Challenges such as maximizing limited resources and generating more participation from the community need to be resolved while the reinforcing factors are cultivated.