Psychopharmacologic investigations in healthy elderly volunteers: MMPI depression scale

The Depression Scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was used as a screening test for healthy volunteers in a psychopharmacologic research study. Data were collected on 43 men and 46 women under age 35 versus 33 men and 43 women over age 65 (plus a subsequent group of 40 men over age 65), and comparisons were made with more extensive data from the Mayo Clinic. The evidence indicates that elderly subjects differ strikingly from young subjects in their responses to items in the MMPI self-ratings of depression. Revised information on normative responses is needed. At present there are too many problems of interpretation when the Depression Scale items are applied to t.he elderly.