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Application of the somatization factor of the MMPI-168 with low back pain patients
Abstract:
The usefulness of the Somatization factor of the MMPI-168 with low back pain patients was examined in two separate studies. In study 1, 58 male veteran low back pain patients who had been divided into organic and mixed groups served as Ss. MMPI protocols were rescored for the five factors of Overall, Hunter, and Butcher (1973). The organic and mixed groups differed only on the Somatization factor. A cutting score of raw greater than or equal to 8 (T = 75) was determined to classify the sample correctly 74.5% of the time. In study 2, a second sample of 48 male veteran low back pain patients was divided into mixed, organic, and functional groups. The mixed group was subdivided further into a mixed-pain group who still were having pain and were seeking treatment and a mixed-relief group who were experiencing a reduction of pain and were returning to vocational activities. The functional and mixed-pain groups differed from the organic and mixed-relief groups on the Somatization and Depression factors. The cutting score determined in the study 1 correctly classified patients 83% of the time.
Insights
The Somatization factor of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-168 (MMPI-168) effectively differentiates low back pain patient groups. A specific cutting score demonstrated significant accuracy in classifying patients across different pain and treatment statuses.
Area of Science:
- Psychological assessment
- Pain management
- Clinical psychology
Background:
- Low back pain (LBP) presents diagnostic challenges, often involving complex psychological components.
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a widely used psychological assessment tool.
- Specific MMPI factors may offer insights into the heterogeneity of LBP patient presentations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of the Somatization factor from the MMPI-168 in distinguishing between different subgroups of low back pain patients.
- To establish a reliable cutting score for the Somatization factor to aid in patient classification.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted with male veteran low back pain patients.
- Study 1 (N=58) compared organic and mixed LBP groups using MMPI-168 factors.
- Study 2 (N=48) further categorized patients into mixed, organic, and functional groups, with the mixed group subdivided by pain status.
Main Results:
- In Study 1, the Somatization factor was the only significant differentiator between organic and mixed LBP groups.
- A raw score cutoff of ≥8 (T=75) on the Somatization factor achieved 74.5% classification accuracy.
- In Study 2, Somatization and Depression factors differentiated functional/mixed-pain from organic/mixed-relief groups, with the Study 1 cutoff yielding 83% accuracy.
Conclusions:
- The Somatization factor of the MMPI-168 is a valuable tool for differentiating low back pain patient subgroups.
- The established cutting score demonstrates good potential for clinical application in classifying LBP patients.
- These findings support the integration of psychological assessment in understanding and managing low back pain.