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A longitudinal study of the effects of seizure symptoms on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI‐2) clinical interpretation
Author(s) -
Derry Paul A.,
Harnadek Michael C.S.,
McLachlan Richard S.,
Sontrop Jennifer,
Blume Warren T.,
Girvin John P.
Publication year - 2002
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/jclp.2005
Subject(s) - minnesota multiphasic personality inventory , epilepsy , psychology , personality , psychiatry , population , personality test , clinical psychology , personality assessment inventory , psychometrics , test validity , medicine , social psychology , environmental health
This study investigated whether the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI‐2) items reflecting seizure symptoms spuriously inflate MMPI‐2 scores in persons with epilepsy. In a repeated measures prospective design, patients with epilepsy completed the MMPI‐2 prior to epilepsy surgery and again two years later when they were either seizure‐free or not seizure‐free. Compared to baseline scores, only seizure‐free patients showed a decline in endorsement of seizure items, and only on one scale, Hypochondriasis (Hs). Clinical profiles were not meaningfully different when readministered when seizures were no longer present. Moreover, profiles generated by individuals with and without seizures were not significantly different. We conclude the MMPI‐2 is a valid test in an epilepsy population, as seizure content did not alter its clinical interpretation. In using the MMPI‐2 in patients with epilepsy, a modest correction on the Hs and Schizophrenia (Sc) scales is warranted in selected cases. In MMPI‐2 research, assessing both statistical and clinical significance is recommended. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Psychol 58: 817‐826.