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MMPI scores in young men with alcoholic relatives and controls
Abstract:
The MacAndrew (A Mac), Rosenberg (A Ros), and Revised (A Rev) "alcoholic scales" of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were administered to 30 nonalcoholic men aged 20 to 25 who have a first-degree alcoholic family member (the family history positive, or FHP, group). Those scores were then compared to a control population matched on demography and drinking history but lacking a family history of alcoholism (the family history negative, or FHN, group). Although the two groups did not differ on the total score made up of all 81 items common to the three scales and scores were almost identical on the A Ros and A Rev scales, the FHP subjects scored an average of 18.86 (SD = 4.08) whereas FHN controls scored 16.82 (SD = 3.24) on the A Mac scale (p less than .05). The two groups differed on only one of the six A Mac subfactors, Interpersonal Competence, with the former scoring 4.29 (SD = 1.51) and the later 3.25 (SD = 1.35) (p less than .05). Although the results on the A Mac are consistent with the possibility of some personality differences between individuals at high risk for the future development of alcoholism and controls, the fact that both groups scored in the "normal range" and the very small numerical differential between FHP and FHN individuals indicate the test is of limited clinical significance. However, the scores may indicate the presence of some aspects of personality which might correlate with greater likelihood for the future development of alcoholism.
Insights
Young men with a family history of alcoholism showed slightly higher scores on the MacAndrew scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory compared to controls. These subtle personality differences suggest potential risk factors for future alcohol dependence.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Family history of alcoholism is a significant risk factor for developing alcohol use disorder.
- Personality traits may influence vulnerability to alcoholism.
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) includes scales designed to assess alcohol-related tendencies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential personality differences between nonalcoholic young men with and without a family history of alcoholism.
- To evaluate the utility of the MacAndrew (A Mac), Rosenberg (A Ros), and Revised (A Rev) alcoholic scales of the MMPI in identifying at-risk individuals.
Main Methods:
- Administered the A Mac, A Ros, and A Rev scales of the MMPI to 30 family history positive (FHP) nonalcoholic men (aged 20-25).
- Compared scores to a matched control group of 30 family history negative (FHN) nonalcoholic men.
- Matched groups on demographics and drinking history.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were found between FHP and FHN groups on total scores across all three scales or on the A Ros and A Rev scales.
- FHP subjects scored significantly higher than FHN controls on the A Mac scale (p < .05).
- The FHP group scored higher on the 'Interpersonal Competence' subfactor of the A Mac scale (p < .05).
Conclusions:
- While the A Mac scale showed a statistically significant difference, both FHP and FHN groups scored within the normal range.
- The small numerical difference suggests limited clinical significance for the MMPI alcoholic scales in this population.
- Subtle personality differences, particularly in interpersonal competence, may be associated with a higher likelihood of future alcoholism development.