Construct validation of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) scales relevant to the assessment of bipolar spectrum disorders.

Abstract

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3) is a commonly used psychological test that includes several scales relevant to measuring manic and depressive symptoms of bipolar spectrum disorders. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the construct validity of MMPI-3 scale scores with respect to self-report measures of bipolar psychopathology. Using a sample of 644 university students in New Zealand, we calculated correlations between scores on the MMPI-3 and the Hypomanic Personality Scale-Short Form (HPS-SF) total and factor scores and the Altman Self-Report Mania Scale (ASRM) total and item scores. For associations against the HPS-SF, almost all of the hypotheses were supported, whereas for the ASRM scale, several were not. We also estimated a series of regression models predicting HPS-SF and ASRM scores from meaningfully associated MMPI-3 scores. Hypomanic Activation (RC9), Activation (ACT), and Self-Importance (SFI) scores emerged as the most consistent and substantial predictors of criteria, with SFI scores being more specifically associated with total scores and criteria related to Social Vitality. Several internalizing and thought dysfunction MMPI-3 scales were also meaningfully associated with scores on the HPS-SF and ASRM. Implications and limitations, such as the use of a university student convenience sample, are discussed.