MMPI-2 interpretation and stroke: cross-validation of a correction factor.

Abstract

Accumulating data indicate that the MMPI-2 contains items that may be sensitive to neurologic conditions independent of a patient's psychological status. Gass (1992) identified 21 stroke-related MMPI/MMPI-2 items which were recommended for use as a score-correction index. This study examined these items using a cross-validation sample of 50 VA stroke patients. Item endorsement rates were contrasted with those of the MMPI-2 normative sample. The following results were obtained: The MMPI-2 items that distinguished stroke patients from normals have neurologic symptom content, all 21 correction items were upheld as effective discriminators, and the 21 items were commonly endorsed by the CVA patients (mean = 52%, range: 22% to 75%). These findings support the composition of the MMPI-2 correction for stroke and the rationale on which its application is based.