Personality characteristics of incest history psychotherapy patients: a research note

The MMPI records of 16 female psychotherapy patients who gave histories of incestuous experience were compared with those of 16 nonincest-reporting patients who had been matched on age, education, ethnic group, and referring therapist. The mean profiles for the groups were very similar [rho = 0.92); however, a prediction that incest history patients would report more problems in the sexual area than controls was confirmed. The overall pattern of results suggests that, while the report of incest may not be specifically linked with any diagnostic category, it is associated with the report of various kinds of sexual problems.