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Validity of a back pain classification scale for detecting psychological disturbance as measured by the MMPI
Author(s) -
Leavitt Frank,
Garron David C.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/1097-4679(198001)36:1<186::aid-jclp2270360122>3.0.co;2-e
Subject(s) - minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , psychology , disturbance (geology) , scale (ratio) , psychological testing , psychometrics , personality test , clinical psychology , test validity , personality , social psychology , cartography , paleontology , biology , geography
Abstract Constructed a Back Pain Classification Scale (BPCS) to detect serious psychological disturbance in low back pain patients, validated against the MMPI. One hundred and twenty patients with low back pain were classified as functional or organic on the basis of BPCS scores. The group identified as psychologically disturbed (functional) had significantly higher MMPI elevations on Scales F, Hs, D, HY, PD, MF, PA, PT and SC. None of their scale scores was significantly lower than the group identified as organic. T‐scores above 70 were present only on Scales 1 and 3, which suggests a high incidence of essentially neurotic disorders in patients classified as functional. The use of the BPCS as a viable clinical alternative to the MMPI in the medical setting was discussed.