Different personality profiles in patients with cluster headache: a data-driven approach.

INTRODUCTION: Cluster headache (CH) is usually comorbid to mood spectrum disorders, but the psychopathological aspects are poorly explored. We aimed at identifying discrete profiles of personality traits and their association with clinical features. METHODS: Based on the personality scales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III, principal component analysis (PCA) identified psychological patterns of functioning of 56 CH patients. PCA outcomes were used for hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) for sub-groups classification. RESULTS: Eighty-seven percent of patients had personality dysfunctions. PCA found two bipolar patterns: (i) negativistic, sadic-aggressive, borderline, and compulsive traits were distinctive of the psychological dysregulation (PD) dimension, and (ii) narcissistic, histrionic, avoidant, and schizoid traits loaded under the social engagement (SE) component. PD was associated with disease duration and psychopathology. SE was related to educational level and young age. HCA found three groups of patients, and the one with high PD and low SE had the worst psychological profile. CONCLUSIONS: Personality disorders are common in CH. Our data-driven approach revealed distinct personality patterns which can appear differently among patients. The worst combination arguing against mental health is low SE and high PD. Linking this information with medical history may help clinicians to identify tailored-based therapeutic interventions for CH patients.

Profile of personality in frontal and temporal lobe epilepsy: A study using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III.

Personality disorders can influence and, along with cognitive deficits, compromise the quality of life of patients with epilepsy. This study evaluated personality traits and disorders in patients with frontal (FLE) or temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III with the aim to determine prevalent personality profiles. The results demonstrate the presence of particularly pronounced personality traits and disorders with prevalence of histrionic and obsessive-compulsive personality profiles, respectively, in FLE and TLE. These profiles may be related to different effects of pathophysiological and clinical aspects.

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-IV (MCMI-IV) and Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory-II (MACI-II) in Legal Settings.

The MCMI-IV and MACI-II are the most recent iterations of the primary Millon clinical inventories and have become well-established instruments over the course of multiple editions. The MCMI, in particular in its prior editions, and to a lesser extent, the original MACI, have joined the canon of commonly-used psychological instruments in several forensic settings, though they have been met with significant controversy. This controversy is due in large part to complicated and sometimes questionable psychometric and normative referencing qualities that evaluators may find difficult to defend in a court setting. On balance, the instruments, unlike many others, are also supported by a rich though often less-than-understood theoretical backbone which lends depth and explanatory power, but which also can further complicate addressing psycho-legal questions. The authors, representing a mixed perspective on the inventories, generally conclude that while the MCMI-IV and MACI-II rely on a rich theoretical framework, the peer-reviewed literature is virtually non-existent, the need to rely on their predecessor instruments' research literatures are limiting, and the modifying indices have questionable utility in the detecting of response bias. In addition, the normative data and underreporting response styles in family court evaluations cause problems for the MCMI-IV's use in such contexts.

Current Patterns of Training in Personality Assessment During Internship.

OBJECTIVE: Training in broad-based objective and projective personality assessments has been a mainstay of applied psychology. Stedman (2007) and Piotrowski (2015) have documented a decline in projective training during internship. This study investigated internship directors' current expectations regarding graduate school training with objective and projective instruments, their ratings of the importance of that training, and current training patterns with objective and projective instruments during internship. METHOD: Participants were 355 psychology internship programs, representing 46.1% of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers. RESULTS: Results indicated the following current internship training patterns: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (68% to 51%), Personality Assessment Inventory (59% to 25%), Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (51% to 34%), Rorschach (35 to 26%), story telling (41% to 19%), sentence completion (41% to 18%), and drawings (36% to 9%). Adult program directors reported higher percentages for objective tests; child program directors reported higher percentages for projective tests. CONCLUSION: A decreased valuation of projective techniques is now typical of current internship training programs.

Personality traits in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 2.

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) is a multisystem disorder that affects many organs and systems, including the brain. The objective is to analyze personality patterns in myotonic dystrophy type 2 (DM2) compared to DM1 control group. The study comprised 27 consecutive genetically confirmed DM2 patients and control group of 44 DM1 patients. Personality traits were assessed with the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory III (MMCI III). In DM2 group there were no scale with pathological scores, although compulsive and paranoid traits were the most prominent. DM2 patients had lower scores compared to DM1 patients in almost all scales. Pathological scores on clinical symptom scales were not observed, although anxiety scale almost approached this value. Patients with higher compulsive score had higher level of education (rho = +0.53, p < 0.01). On the other hand, higher paranoid score correlated with younger age at onset (rho = -0.34, p < 0.01) and lower educational level (rho = -0.26, p < 0.05). Our results did not show significant personality impairments in patients with DM2. However, following personality traits were predominant: compulsive (in patients with higher education) and paranoid (in patients with lower education and earlier age at onset). The most common clinical symptoms were anxiety and somatization.

Personality disorders in cluster headache: a study using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III.

A great deal of studies suggests that cluster headache (CH) patients are usually comorbid to anxiety-mood spectrum disorders and psychopathological symptoms; however, the personality profiles reported in the literature strictly depend on type of assessment used. Psychiatric comorbidities have been extensively studied in migraine and they are recognized to represent a major risk factor associated with poorer outcome, playing a role in the headache chronification process at once as cause and consequence of it. By contrast the incidence and role of psychopathological aspects in CH is still not clarified, insufficiently explored as the striking severity of such a physical pain apparently leaves no room to psychological explanations. The aim of the present study is to describe psychopathological aspects of CH patients by means of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III), a psychological assessment tool compatible to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) that correlates personality disorders (PDs) and clinical syndromes. We included all consecutive inward patients with CH between January 2014 and December 2016. Patients were evaluated using the MCMI-III a validated inventory assessing 14 PDs Scales (coordinate with DSM-IV Axis II disorders) and ten Clinical Syndrome Scales (coordinate with DSM-IV Axis I disorders). Twenty-six CH patients (24 chronic CH) were tested. Personality disorders were present in 92% of the patients. The most frequent PDs were: obsessive-compulsive (30.8%), histrionic (26.9%), narcissistic (11.5%), paranoid (11.5%) and avoidant (11.5%). According to the MCMI-III, patients with CH showed a high prevalence of personality disorders (Axis II-DSM-IV). PDs in CH patients can play an important role in determining CH course toward chronification. These preliminary results suggest that behavioral treatments can find room to support more conventional drug and neurostimulation therapies in these patients. In addition, the very high prevalence of PDs in our patients suggests that CH could in some cases be considered among the spectrum of somatoform and pain syndromes in patients with PDs.

Relación entre tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento y perfiles de personalidad en mujeres con diagnóstico de Síndrome de Turner / Relationship between growth hormone treatment and personality profiles in women diagnosed with Turner Syndrome

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue identificar la existencia de perfiles distintivos en las escalas de personalidad en relación con la aplicación o no de hormona de crecimiento en 73 mujeres adultas con diagnóstico de Síndrome de Turner de Latinoamérica. Para ello se administró, en formato online, el Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon II y un cuestionario clínico para recabar datos sobre la realización o no de tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento durante el desarrollo con el fin de omparar ambos grupos. Los resultados encontrados muestran que el grupo que no realizó tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento obtiene medias más altas en casi la totalidad de las escalas de personalidad básicas y patológicas en comparación con el grupo que sírealizó tratamiento, siendo dicha diferencia significativa en la escala esquizotípica. Esta escala se asocia con necesidades afectivas mínimas, aislamiento social y apego empobrecido. Estos resultados podrían dar cuenta que el tratamiento con hormona de crecimiento sería un factor positivo para esta población, favoreciendo el desarrollo de características de personalidad más adaptativas en relación a lo social.

The aim of this study was to identify the existence of distinctive profiles on the personality scales in relation to the application or not of the growth hormone in 73 adult women diagnosed with Turner Syndrome in Latin America. For it was administered, in online form, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II and a clinical questionnaire to collect data on the realization or non-treatment with growth hormone during development in order to compare both groups. The results show that the group did not make growth hormone treatment gets highest averages in nearly all of the basic and pathological personality scales compared to the group that if he completed treatment, being such significant difference in schizotypal scale. This scale is associatedwith minimal emotional needs, social isolation and impoverished attachment. These results might note that treatment with growth hormone could be a positive factorfor this population, favoring the development of more adaptive personality characteristics in relation to the social aspects.

International Adaptations of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory: Construct Validity and Clinical Applications.

This article examines the influence of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) as a clinical and research instrument beyond the borders of the United States. The MCMI's theoretical and empirical grounding, its alignment with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), and scales that can be interpreted both categorically and dimensionally, are the primary features that make the test attractive. We begin with studies that evaluated the construct equivalence of the different language adaptations. Data from the most widely researched non English-language forms (Danish, Dutch, and Spanish) show excellent comparability with Millon's original. Nevertheless, significant problems were noted in efforts to create clinical groups that would allow for equivalence of diagnostic accuracy when using the cutoff scores. Although dimensional aspects of the scale scores were not affected by this, the adapted measures might show attenuated diagnostic accuracy compared with Millon's original. Next, we present MCMI studies conducted in clinical settings to document where the adapted tests have made their greatest impact in the international literature. A wide variety of clinical applications demonstrated broad utility, and given the high number of issues addressed, we think Millon's influence will certainly stand the test of time in different domains and settings.

Evolution of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory.

Dr. Theodore Millon (1928-2014) was a primary architect for the personality disorders in the DSM-III, a structure that has endured into the DSM-5. His 1969 book, Modern Psychopathology, created an elegant framework into which the well-known personality prototypes could be fitted and understood. His theoretical work soon led into the creation of several psychological inventories, most notably the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI). The MCMI, now in preparation for its 4th major edition, has been a very popular instrument among clinicians. This article explores the history of the MCMI's development from its origins, through 2 distinct theoretical phases, and to its current status as the MCMI-IV is finalized.

Validación y propiedades psicométricas del "cuetionario exploratorio de la personalidad III" (ceper III) en Colombia / Validation and psychometric properties of the "Exploratory Questionnaire of Personality-III" (CEPER-III) in Colombia

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue analizar la validez convergente y la fiabilidad del "Cuestionario exploratorio de la personalidad-III" (CEPER-III; Caballo, Guillen, Salazar e Irurtia, 2011) en una muestra general de 565 colombianos. El cuestionario evalúa 14 estilos de personalidad que siguen los criterios del DSM-IV (APA, 1994) y DSM-III-R (APA, 1987), aunque no se trata de trastornos. Los coeficientes alfa de Cronbach de las escalas oscilaron entre 0,75 y 0,87, indicando una adecuada consistencia interna. Las correlaciones de Pearson obtenidas entre los estilos (subescalas) del CEPER-III y los trastornos (subescalas) del "Inventario clínico multiaxial de Millon" (Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III, MCMI-III; Millon, Davis y Millon, 2007) oscilaron entre 0,40 y 0,70, apoyando la validez convergente del CEPER-III. Estos resultados indican que el CEPER-III posee adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para ser utilizado en poblacion colombiana y que sus items son comprendidos sin problemas de adecuacion cultural

The aim of this research was to analyze the convergent validity of the "Exploratory Questionnaire of Personality-III" (CEPER-III; Caballo, Guillen, Salazar, & Irurtia, 2011) in a sample of 565 participants of Colombia. The questionnaire assesses 14 personality styles that follow the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-IV (APA, 1994) and DSM-III-R (APA, 1987), although they are not disorders. The alpha Cronbach coefficients of the scales ranged from .75 to .87, indicating an adequate internal consistency. Pearson correlations obtained between the CEPERIII (subscales) styles and the Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III (MCMI-III; Million, Davis and million, 2007) disorders (subscales) ranged from .40 to .70, supporting the convergent validity of the CEPER-III. These results indicate that the CEPER-III has adequate psychometric properties to be used in Colombian population and that their items are well understood without problems of cultural appropriateness

Pertubación sintomática general y afectiva en los trastornos de la personalidad: influencia de la gravedad frente al tipo de trastorno / General and affective symptoms disturbance in personality disorder: influence of severity vs. type of disorder

Diversos modelos centrados en la gravedad del trastorno de personalidad (TP) se erigen como alternativa a los tradicionales planteamientos categoriales, confirmando su alto valor predictivo en la evaluación del funcionamiento social y en la comorbilidad con otros trastornos. En este trabajo examinamos la relación entre gravedad del TP (acumulación de diferentes rasgos de personalidad patológica e intensidad de cada uno de ellos) y grado de malestar sintomático en una muestra de 142 pacientes. El análisis bivariante confirma en el grupo de alta gravedad un mayor nivel de perturbación general (p= 0,013) y afectiva (p= 0,036). El análisis multivariante detecta, sin embargo, que la intensidad de rasgos esquizotípicos, autodestructivos y pasivo-agresivos explica la perturbación sintomática mejor que la acumulación de rasgos de personalidad patológica. Se discuten estos hallazgos en el contexto de la complejidad conceptual y evaluativa del constructo TP. La búsqueda de un índice adecuado de gravedad sigue pendiente en el esfuerzo por mejorar la planificación y una provisión objetiva de recursos sociosanitarios

Several models focused on the severity of personality disorders (PD) have been proposed as an alternative to the traditional categorical approach, confirming their high predictive value in the evaluation of social functioning and comorbidity with other disorders. In this work, we examined the relationship between personality severity (accumulation of different traits of pathological personality and intensity of each of them) and degree of symptomatic disturbance in a sample of 142 patients. The bivariate analysis confirms that the high personality severity group has higher level of affective (p= .036) and general (p=.013) disruption. However, multivariate analysis found that the intensity of schizotypal, self-destructive and passive-aggressive traits explains symptomatic disturbance better than the accumulation of traits. These findings are discussed in the context of conceptual and evaluative complexity of the personality disorder construct. The search for an appropriate index of severity is still pending in the effort to improve the planning and objective provision of social and health resources

Evidências de validade para o IDTP baseadas em variáveis externas / Validity evidences for PDDI based on external variables / Evidencias de validez del IDTP basadas en variables externas

O presente estudo teve como objetivo buscar evidências de validade baseadas na relação com variáveis externas ao Inventário Dimensional dos Transtornos da Personalidade (IDTP), nomeadamente validade convergente e discriminante correlacionando-o, com o Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III) e de critério, buscando-se predizer a presença de transtornos psiquiátricos. Foram participantes 350 pessoas, cujas idades variaram entre 18 e 67 anos, sendo 71,7% do sexo feminino. Os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo Não Psiquiátrico (GNP; n= 276) e Grupo Psiquiátrico (GPS; n= 74). Todos os participantes responderam ao IDTP e ao MCMI-III. Os dados encontrados apontam para convergência entre os resultados dos instrumentos, bem como para capacidade do IDTP em discriminar pessoas com funcionamento da personalidade mais patológico e mais saudável. Também foram encontrados bons índices de sensibilidade para o instrumento, mas não muito favoráveis para especificidade...

This study aimed to find evidence of validity based on the relationship with external variables to Personality Disorders Dimensional Inventory (PDDI), including convergent and discriminant validity by correlating the test with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III) and criterion validity seeking to predict the presence of psychiatric disorders. The participants were 350 people, whose ages ranged between 18 and 67 years, and 71.7% were female. Participants were divided into two groups: Group Not Psychiatric (GNP, n= 276) and Psychiatric Group (PSG, n= 74). All participants answered both, PDDI and MCMI-III. The data found in the analysis point to convergence between the instruments, as well as the PDDI ability to discriminate people with pathological personality functioning and healthier people. We also found good sensitivity for the instrument, but not so much favorable for the specificity of PDDI...

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo buscar evidencias de validez con base en la relación con variables externas al Inventario Dimensional dos Trastornos da Personalidad (IDTP), más específicamente validez convergente y discriminante correlacionándolo con el Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III), y de criterio buscando predecir la presencia de trastornos psiquiátricos. Participaron 350 personas, con edades variando entre 18 y 67 años, siendo 71,7% del sexo femenino. Los participantes fueron divididos en dos grupos: Grupo No Psiquiátrico (GNP; n= 276) y Grupo Psiquiátrico (GPS; n= 74). Todos los participantes respondieron el IDTP y el MCMI-III. Los datos encontrados en los análisis apuntan una convergencia entre los instrumentos IDTP y MCMI-III, así como también una capacidad del IDTP para discriminar personas con funcionamiento patológico de la personalidad y personas más saludables. También fueron encontrados buenos índices de sensibilidad para el instrumento, pese a no haber sido muy favorables para la especificidad del IDTP...

Patrones de personalidad patológica y estrategias de afrontamiento en estudiantes de psicología / Relation between personality patterns and coping given among psychology students

Resumen Estudio no experimental de tipo correlacional cuyo objetivo fue analizar la relación entre patrones de personalidad patológica y estrategias de afrontamiento en 117 estudiantes de psicología con edades comprendidas entre los 18 y 33 años; a partir del Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon y la Escala de Estrategias de Coping. El análisis de resultados a partir del coeficiente de correlación de Spearman y el paquete estadístico SPSS, versión 19.0, indicó mayor presencia respecto a la estrategia de afrontamiento solución de problemas y el patrón de personalidad patológico narcisista; en cuanto a la correlación entre estas dos variables es significativamente baja.

Abstract Nonexperimental correlational study aimed to analyze the relationship between pathological personality patterns and coping strategies in 117 psychology students aged between 18 and 33 years from the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory and the Coping Strategies Scale. Analysis of results from the Spearman correlation coefficient and SPSS, version 19.0, indicated greater presence regarding coping strategy troubleshooting and narcissist personality patterns, in terms of the correlation between these two variables is significantly low.

Evidências de validade para o IDTP baseadas em variáveis externas / Validity evidences for PDDI based on external variables / Evidencias de validez del IDTP basadas en variables externas

O presente estudo teve como objetivo buscar evidências de validade baseadas na relação com variáveis externas ao Inventário Dimensional dos Transtornos da Personalidade (IDTP), nomeadamente validade convergente e discriminante correlacionando-o, com o Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III) e de critério, buscando-se predizer a presença de transtornos psiquiátricos. Foram participantes 350 pessoas, cujas idades variaram entre 18 e 67 anos, sendo 71,7% do sexo feminino. Os participantes foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo Não Psiquiátrico (GNP; n= 276) e Grupo Psiquiátrico (GPS; n= 74). Todos os participantes responderam ao IDTP e ao MCMI-III. Os dados encontrados apontam para convergência entre os resultados dos instrumentos, bem como para capacidade do IDTP em discriminar pessoas com funcionamento da personalidade mais patológico e mais saudável. Também foram encontrados bons índices de sensibilidade para o instrumento, mas não muito favoráveis para especificidade.(AU)

This study aimed to find evidence of validity based on the relationship with external variables to Personality Disorders Dimensional Inventory (PDDI), including convergent and discriminant validity by correlating the test with the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III) and criterion validity seeking to predict the presence of psychiatric disorders. The participants were 350 people, whose ages ranged between 18 and 67 years, and 71.7% were female. Participants were divided into two groups: Group Not Psychiatric (GNP, n= 276) and Psychiatric Group (PSG, n= 74). All participants answered both, PDDI and MCMI-III. The data found in the analysis point to convergence between the instruments, as well as the PDDI ability to discriminate people with pathological personality functioning and healthier people. We also found good sensitivity for the instrument, but not so much favorable for the specificity of PDDI.(AU)

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo buscar evidencias de validez con base en la relación con variables externas al Inventario Dimensional dos Trastornos da Personalidad (IDTP), más específicamente validez convergente y discriminante correlacionándolo con el Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III), y de criterio buscando predecir la presencia de trastornos psiquiátricos. Participaron 350 personas, con edades variando entre 18 y 67 años, siendo 71,7% del sexo femenino. Los participantes fueron divididos en dos grupos: Grupo No Psiquiátrico (GNP; n= 276) y Grupo Psiquiátrico (GPS; n= 74). Todos los participantes respondieron el IDTP y el MCMI-III. Los datos encontrados en los análisis apuntan una convergencia entre los instrumentos IDTP y MCMI-III, así como también una capacidad del IDTP para discriminar personas con funcionamiento patológico de la personalidad y personas más saludables. También fueron encontrados buenos índices de sensibilidad para el instrumento, pese a no haber sido muy favorables para la especificidad del IDTP.(AU)

Millon clinical multiaxial inventory III (MCMI-III) and communication styles in a sample of university students.

Despite the controversy generated by the conceptualization of personality disorders, it is well established that the inflexibility of coping styles and dysfunctional behaviors associated with them can lead to a considerable impairment in interpersonal relationships. Although communication is one of the most important processes in relating to others, few empirical studies have been undertaken on the influence of dysfunctional personality patterns on communication styles, which is the main objective of the present cross-sectional study. A total of 529 Spanish university students were assessed using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III), Millon, Davis, and Millon, 1997, and the Communicator Style Measure (Norton, 1978). Results show statistically significant relationships between different personality patterns and styles of communication and suggest that narcissistic, histrionic and compulsive patterns are related to positive communication styles in a non-clinical sample. The implications of this study are discussed.

Can personality traits predict the future development of heart disease in hospitalized psychiatric veterans?

OBJECTIVE: To examine which personality traits are associated with the new onset of chronic coronary heart disease (CHD) in psychiatric inpatients within 16 years after their initial evaluation. We theorized that personality measures of depression, anxiety, hostility, social isolation, and substance abuse would predict CHD development in psychiatric inpatients. METHOD: We used a longitudinal database of psychological test data from 349 Veterans first admitted to a psychiatric unit between October 1, 1983, and September 30, 1987. Veterans Affairs and national databases were assessed to determine the development of new-onset chronic CHD over the intervening 16-year period. RESULTS: New-onset CHD developed in 154 of the 349 (44.1%) subjects. Thirty-one psychometric variables from five personality tests significantly predicted the development of CHD. We performed a factor analysis of these variables because they overlapped and four factors emerged, with positive adaptive functioning the only significant factor (OR=0.798, p=0.038). CONCLUSION: These results support previous research linking personality traits to the development of CHD, extending this association to a population of psychiatric inpatients. Compilation of these personality measures showed that 31 overlapping psychometric variables predicted those Veterans who developed a diagnosis of heart disease within 16 years after their initial psychiatric hospitalization. Our results suggest that personality variables measuring positive adaptive functioning are associated with a reduced risk of developing chronic CHD.

[Prefrontal symptoms and personality disorders in substance abusers]. / Sintomatologia prefrontal y trastornos de la personalidad en adictos a sustancias.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroimaging findings associate personality traits and their disorders with an altered functioning of certain areas of the brain, especially in the frontal lobe. There is a need for instruments that can be applied in clinical practice to explore these relations based on their behavioural manifestations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The sample was composed of 371 subjects with substance abuse/dependence. The Prefrontal Symptoms Inventory (PSI) and the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II (MCMI-II) were administered and diagnostic interviews were carried out to determine the existence of disorders affecting axis II (personality disorders). RESULTS: Criteria satisfying a diagnosis of some personality disorder were present in 43.9% of the sample. The results show a broad correlational pattern between the prefrontal symptoms scales and those of personality disorders. The variance in up to eight of the 13 scales of the MCMI-II is predicted in over 20%, based on the combination of scales from the PSI. The personality disorders diagnosed by means of a clinical interview present differential prefrontal symptomatological profiles that were consistent with what was expected. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis of a relationship between the diagnosis of personality disorders and frontal malfunctioning, thus suggesting new lines for studying and approaching them in clinical practice. Such new paths could involve the use of cognitive rehabilitation to improve day-to-day functioning and modify the neurological substrates underlying personality disorders.

Millon clinical multiaxial inventory III (MCMI-III) and communication styles in a sample of university students

Despite the controversy generated by the conceptualization of personality disorders, it is well established that the inflexibility of coping styles and dysfunctional behaviors associated with them can lead to a considerable impairment in interpersonal relationships. Although communication is one of the most important processes in relating to others, few empirical studies have been undertaken on the influence of dysfunctional personality patterns on communication styles, which is the main objective of the present cross-sectional study. A total of 529 Spanish university students were assessed using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory III (MCMI-III, Millon, Davis & Millon, 1997), and the Communicator Style Measure (Norton, 1978). Results show statistically significant relationships between different personality patterns and styles of communication and suggest that narcissistic, histrionic and compulsive patterns are related to positive communication styles in a non-clinical sample. The implications of this study are discussed (AU)

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Dimensiones factoriales del cuestionario de Millon (MCMI-II) en adictos a sustancias / Factorial dimensions of the Millon’s MCMI-II in substance addicts

El Inventario Clínico Multiaxial de Millon (MCMI-II) es un cuestionario ampliamente utilizado en la clínica, especialmente en drogodependencias, para la evaluación de la personalidad. El objetivo del presente estudio es conocer la estructura factorial subyacente del MCMI-II en una muestra de 1.106 adictos a sustancias psicoactivas que inician tratamiento. Los participantes cumplimentaron el MCMIII y el TCI-R. Se realizó análisis factorial exploratorio multivariado. Los resultados muestran que en el MCMI-II hay un factor principal que evalúa sintomatología de aparición reciente relacionada con el Eje I, una escala de ideación autolítica, dos escalas que exploran problemas relacionados con alcohol y otras drogas, dos de rasgos de personalidad normal y siete de rasgos de personalidad disfuncional. Aunque el objetivo del MCMI-II es evaluar la personalidad, los resultados indican que la mayor parte del mismo evalúa condiciones no necesariamente estables que han aparecido recientemente. Las escalas que miden rasgos disfuncionales de personalidad se combinan entre sí para configurar los trastornos, sin ajuste claro a la teoría de referencia. Se concluye que el uso del MCMI-II con fines diagnósticos debe considerar la presencia de condiciones inestables que pueden incrementar artefactualmente las cifras de prevalencia y de coexistencia de trastornos de personalidad y comportamientos adictivos (AU)

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II is a widely used questionnaire for the assessment of personality in clinical settings, especially in addictive behaviors. The aim of this study is to determine the underlying factorial structure of the MCMI-II in a sample of 1,106 drug-dependents who seek treatment. All participants completed the MCMI-II and the TCI-R. Multivariate exploratory factor analysis was performed. The results show that, in the MCMI-II, there is a main part that assesses symptoms of recent onset associated with the Axis I disorders, a scale that explores autolytic ideation, two scales that explore issues related to the use of alcohol and other drugs, two scales that assess normal personality traits, and seven scales that explore dysfunctional personality traits. Although the objective of the MCMI-II is the assessment of personality, the results indicate that the largest part of the questionnaire assesses not necessarily stable conditions and which have appeared recently. The scales measuring dysfunctional personality traits are combined to account for disorders without a clear match to the theory of reference. We conclude that, when using the MCMI-II with diagnostic purposes, one should consider the presence of unstable conditions that could artifactually increase the prevalence rates and the coexistence of personality disorders and addictive behaviors (AU)

[Factorial dimensions of the Millon's MCMI-II in substance addicts]. / Dimensiones factoriales del cuestionario de Millon (MCMI-II) en adictos a sustancias.

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory II is a widely used questionnaire for the assessment of personality in clinical settings, especially in addictive behaviors. The aim of this study is to determine the underlying factorial structure of the MCMI-II in a sample of 1,106 drug-dependents who seek treatment. All participants completed the MCMI-II and the TCI-R. Multivariate exploratory factor analysis was performed. The results show that, in the MCMI-II, there is a main part that assesses symptoms of recent onset associated with the Axis I disorders, a scale that explores autolytic ideation, two scales that explore issues related to the use of alcohol and other drugs, two scales that assess normal personality traits, and seven scales that explore dysfunctional personality traits. Although the objective of the MCMI-II is the assessment of personality, the results indicate that the largest part of the questionnaire assesses not necessarily stable conditions and which have appeared recently. The scales measuring dysfunctional personality traits are combined to account for disorders without a clear match to the theory of reference. We conclude that, when using the MCMI-II with diagnostic purposes, one should consider the presence of unstable conditions that could artifactually increase the prevalence rates and the coexistence of personality disorders and addictive behaviors.