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)

Aplicação do modelo de Rasch na medida de transtornos da personalidade / Application of the Rasch model in measuring personality disorders

OBJECTIVE: To describe item and person parameters obtained with the Rasch model, one of the item response theory models, in the assessment of personality disorders based on Millon's theory. METHOD: A total of 350 people participated in the study. Age ranged from 18 to 67 years (mean ± standard deviation = 27.02±10.13), and 71.7% of the participants (n = 251) were female. Of the 350 individuals, 21.1% (n = 74) answered affirmatively about being under psychiatric treatment and taking psychiatric medications. The Personality Disorders Dimensional Inventory (PDDI), an instrument designed to assess personality disorders according to Millon's theory, was applied to all participants. Data were analyzed using the Rasch model. RESULTS: Overall, analysis with the Rasch model revealed that the PDDI has adequate psychometric properties for the assessment of personality disorders. CONCLUSION: Among the contributions of item response theory models for clinical instruments, the Rasch person-item map deserves to be highlighted as a successful attempt to improve the understanding of clinical scores obtained in response to particular test items.

OBJETIVO: Descrever os parâmetros de itens e pessoas obtidos com o modelo de Rasch, um dos modelos da teoria de resposta ao item, na avaliação de transtornos da personalidade de acordo com a teoria de Millon. MÉTODO: Participaram do estudo 350 pessoas. A idade variou de 18 a 67 anos (média ± desvio padrão = 27.02±10.13), e 71.7% (n = 251) eram do sexo feminino. Dos 350 participantes, 21.1% (n = 74) responderam afirmativamente sobre estarem em tratamento psiquiátrico e utilizarem medicamento psiquiátrico. O Inventário Dimensional de Transtornos da Personalidade (IDTP), destinado à avaliação dos transtornos da personalidade com base na teoria de Millon, foi aplicado a todos os participantes. Os dados foram analisados por meio do modelo de Rasch. RESULTADOS: De modo geral, os resultados da análise por meio do modelo de Rasch revelaram que o IDTP tem parâmetros psicométricos adequados para a avaliação de transtornos da personalidade. CONCLUSÃO: Entre as contribuições da teoria de resposta ao item para instrumentos clínicos, o mapa de pessoas-itens do modelo Rasch merece destaque enquanto tentativa bem-sucedida de aumentar a compreensão das pontuações clínicas obtidas em resposta a determinadas questões de um teste.