MMPI correlates of adaptive ability deficits in patients with brain lesions

In the present study the relationship between MMPI variables and adequacy of function in verbal and performance intelligence, concept formation, sensory-perceptual and motor skills was examined in 129 subjects with definite evidence of cerebral lesions. Patients with greater impairment of abilities showed higher elevations on the MMPI variables, suggesting more emotional difficulties. Based on the present results and those of two previous studies by the same authors it was concluded that: a) MMPI variables are more closely related to measures of adequacy of function in adaptive abilities than they are to measures of lesion localization based upon pathoanatomical characteristics of the brain; and b) except for verbal skills the relationship between the MMPI variables and various adaptive skills is relatively minor. Interpretive limitations of the MMPI with brain-damaged patients and the need for devising other tests sensitive to the nuances of emotional difficulties of patients with brain lesions were discussed.