MMPI-2 profiles of NGRI and civil patients.

Abstract

Limited information is available comparing individuals found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) to other psychiatric patients. This study examined the MMPI-2 profiles of 36 NGRIs and 35 civilly committed inpatients at 3 state psychiatric hospitals. The NGRI and civil patient groups differed in terms of race and gender with more minority individuals and fewer women in the NGRI group. Therefore, these demographic variables were used as covariates in a MANCOVA comparing the MMPI-2 validity and clinical scales for these 2 groups. NGRIs and civil inpatients produced significantly different mean MMPI-2 profiles, with NGRIs reporting less pathology overall compared to civil inpatients. Specifically, NGRIs had lower scores on scales F, 1, 2, 7, 8, and O and higher scores on scale K. Contrary to expectations, NGRIs and civil patients did not differ on scale 4, supplementary scale Re, and content scales ANG, CYN, and ASP, or Harris-Lingoes subscale Pd2. Overall, these results suggest that NGRI patients are functioning at a higher level than civil patients. These findings are considered in terms of previous results and potential selection bias. Implications for treatment and future research are also considered.