Personality and Psychotic-Like Features in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder With Severe Depression: An Minnesota...

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychological Assessment
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often comorbid with depression.
• The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) Schizophrenia scale (T_Sc) may be elevated in PTSD patients.
• Understanding factors influencing T_Sc scores in PTSD is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing the MMPI-2 Schizophrenia scale (T_Sc) scores in patients with PTSD.
• To examine the relationship between depression severity, PTSD symptoms, and T_Sc scores.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 119 patients with PTSD who underwent Clinician Administered PTSD Scales (CAPS) and MMPI-2.
• Patients were categorized into severe and less-severe depression groups based on the Korean-Beck Depression Inventory-II (K-BDI-II).
• Correlations and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of T_Sc.

Main Results:

• Severe depression was significantly associated with higher T_Sc scores (p<0.001).
• T_Sc scores strongly correlated with K-BDI-II scores (r=0.70, p<0.001).
• MMPI-2 restructured clinical scales, particularly Demoralization, were associated with T_Sc scores.

Conclusions:

• Elevated T_Sc scores are common in PTSD patients, especially with comorbid severe depression.
• The independent effect of depression on T_Sc diminishes when considering personality traits like demoralization.
• Individualized MMPI-2 interpretation and tailored clinical strategies are necessary for PTSD patients.