Latent profile analysis of the MMPI-2-RF in ADHD evaluations

Assessment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) among adults is complicated by high psychiatric comorbidity and symptom overlap, increasing the risk of potential diagnostic misclassification. This study used a Three-Step Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) to identify distinct Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), Restructured Clinical (RC) scale profiles in a mixed clinical sample seeking ADHD evaluation (n = 546). Three latent profiles emerged: a low-symptom profile, a somatic-depressed-threat sensitive profile, and a primarily demoralized profile. Profiles were not associated with ADHD diagnosis alone or most ADHD comorbidities. However, the profiles differed significantly in the probability of depression diagnoses, anxiety diagnoses, and combined ADHD/depression/anxiety diagnoses. Findings suggest MMPI-2-RF RC scale profiles are informative for identifying internalizing psychopathology and diagnostic complexity but lack specificity for ADHD. Results underscore the utility of MMPI-2-RF, RC scale-based latent profiles in disentangling diagnostic heterogeneity and the importance of multimethod assessment in adult ADHD evaluations.