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Retest reliability of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory
1Department of Psychology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Abstract:
This article reports on two studies which examined the temporal stability of the personality disorder subscales from the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI). The scales demonstrated adequate stability in psychiatric inpatients (retested with an average of just over 1 year between testings). Furthermore, a separate sample of depressed inpatients assessed when depressed and 6 weeks later showed that the stability of MCMI personality scales was observed even after patients displayed an initial reduction in depression severity. Although stability is vital to the accurate assessment of personality disorders, both studies also found high retest correlations for the MCMI clinical syndrome subscales. In general, these results suggest that patients displayed similar symptom patterns over time, whether construed as personality traits or characteristic patterns of responding when symptomatic.
Insights
The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) personality scales show good temporal stability in psychiatric patients over time. This stability was observed even when patients experienced initial reductions in depression severity.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychological Assessment
- Personality Disorders
Background:
- Accurate assessment of personality disorders is crucial.
- The temporal stability of personality assessment tools is a key consideration.
- The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) is a widely used tool for assessing personality disorders and clinical syndromes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the temporal stability of the personality disorder subscales of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI).
- To assess the stability of MCMI personality scales in psychiatric inpatients over approximately one year.
- To evaluate the stability of MCMI personality scales in depressed inpatients following an initial reduction in depression severity.
Main Methods:
- Two studies were conducted involving psychiatric inpatients.
- Participants were retested after an average of just over one year.
- A separate sample of depressed inpatients was assessed at two time points, 6 weeks apart, with an initial reduction in depression severity observed between assessments.
Main Results:
- MCMI personality disorder subscales demonstrated adequate temporal stability in psychiatric inpatients.
- High retest correlations were found for MCMI clinical syndrome subscales in both studies.
- Personality scale stability was maintained in depressed patients even after initial symptom improvement.
Conclusions:
- The MCMI personality scales exhibit sufficient temporal stability for use in psychiatric populations.
- Patients tend to display consistent symptom patterns over time, whether viewed as personality traits or symptomatic responses.
- These findings support the reliability of the MCMI in capturing enduring personality characteristics.