MMPI-168 Factor Score Profiles for Major Diagnostic Groups

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the MMPI-168 factor score profiles for groups of psychiatric patients whose clinical scale score profiles matched prototype patterns for schizophrenia ( N = 199), depression ( N = 215), and personality disorder ( N = 126). The MMPI-168 factor score profiles for a sample of 27 psychiatric outpatients meeting DSM III criteria for borderline personality were also examined. Suggestion of significant psychopathology was attributed to mean factor scores at or above the 90th percentile in a college student normative sample. According to this criterion, the personality disorder group had mean factor score: profile that evidenced significant elevation only on the Somatization factor. The depression group evidenced significant elevation on the Somatization and Depression factors. The borderline personality group evidenced significant elevation on Somatization and Depression, plus marginal elevation on Low Morale and Psychotic Distortion. The schizophrenia group evidenced significant elevation on Somatization, Depression, and Psychotic Distortion. All four diagnostic groups have elevated scores on a new general psychopathology screening scale (PSY). The results suggest that factor score profiles may contribute toward diagnostic interpretation of MMPI-168 records through simple representation of primary dimensions of psychopathology.