MMPI special scale clinical correlates for adolescent inpatients

Little research has focused on the clinical correlates of adolescents' Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) special scale responses. We investigated the clinical correlates of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC), Anxiety (A), Repression (R), and Ego Strength (Es) scales, based on self-reported data from 68 inpatient adolescents and ratings by their nursing staff and individual therapists. Parametric and nonparametric analyses revealed patterns of clinically relevant descriptors for these scales in a manner largely consistent with findings derived from studies of adult respondents. Results are discussed in terms of implications for interpretation of each of these special scales and in relation to a general approach to understanding adolescents' MMPI profiles.