Related Experiment Videos
Subtle/obvious MMPI scales identify attention deficit disorder alcoholics
A M Horton1, J M Vaeth, M Koretzky
1University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
The International Journal of Neuroscience
|June 1, 1989
Summary
This study found that subtle and obvious MMPI scales differentiated male alcoholics with and without Attention Deficit Disorders, Residual Type (ADDRT). These personality inventory findings aid in understanding alcoholic subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Previous research indicated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Clinical Scale Profiles differentiate alcoholics with and without Attention Deficit Disorders, Residual Type (ADDRT).
- The specific MMPI item characteristics (subtle vs. obvious) responsible for this differentiation remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether subtle or obvious aspects of the MMPI item pool account for the differentiation between male alcoholics with and without ADDRT.
- To identify specific MMPI scales that are sensitive to these differences.
Main Methods:
- Matched groups of 30 male alcoholics with and without ADDRT were used.
- Participants were individually matched based on age and education.
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Clinical Scale Profiles were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant differences were observed between the groups on several MMPI scales.
- Specifically, scales D-O, HY-O, HY-S, PD-O, PA-O, PA-S, MA-O, MA-S, ES, and A showed significant variations.
- These findings suggest both subtle and obvious MMPI aspects contribute to differentiating alcoholic subtypes.
Conclusions:
- The MMPI effectively differentiates male alcoholics with and without ADDRT.
- Both subtle and obvious MMPI scales play a role in this differentiation.
- These results contribute to a more nuanced understanding of personality profiles in alcohol use disorder subtypes.