MMPI-2-RF patterns after traumatic brain injury

Individuals who sustain traumatic brain injury (TBI) may report various cognitive, emotional, and somatic symptoms. To formally assess the possibility of subtypes of symptom profiles following TBI, we examined patterns of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured form (MMPI-2-RF) restructured clinical scales in 201 persons with TBI, 1 to 12 months post injury. We also evaluated how these patterns varied according to injury, demographic, and premorbid variables. Cluster analysis identified 4 distinct MMPI-2-RF profiles. Clusters 1 and 4 differed primarily in overall profile elevation, while Clusters 2 and 3 varied in pattern. Although Cluster 1 endorsed the most distress across clinical scales, they were also most likely to have highly elevated Symptom Validity scales. In addition, they had relatively greater prevalence of prior personal and substance abuse histories than Cluster 4. In contrast, Cluster 4 did not endorse any significant elevations on clinical scales, even though it comprised relatively more patients with positive neuroimaging findings. Cluster 2 was predominantly female and endorsed prominent somatization on the MMPI-2-RF, whereas Cluster 3 was predominantly male, and their MMPI-2-RF pattern was characterized by subclinical levels of guardedness and restlessness. Compared with Cluster 2, Cluster 3 had relatively greater proportions of participants with positive neuroimaging findings as well as prior substance abuse histories. The present study is consistent with research that suggests that subjective symptom reporting following TBI is associated to a considerable degree with premorbid factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).