MMPI Depression Scale Research Articles

0520 Treating Sleep Maintenance Insomnia Means Treating Depression?

Abstract Introduction Rumination whilst awakening nightly might be a common symptom in fragmented sleep and depression as well. The problem is that the test results on BECK or MMPI DEPRESSION SCALE often do not reach the diagnostic criteria of depression on DSM-V, only the symptoms of worry, rumination and sleep maintenance problems appear as mild depressive signs. The aim of our study was to investigate the assumption to which treating everyday worries through CBT methods would affect the amount and severity of nightly rumination and the severity of depressive mood as well. Methods 33 adult patients (M=39,55 SD=10,66) diagnosed with insomnia with the criteria of only sleep maintenance proble. Each participants filled the PSQI, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Trait-Anxiety Inventory before the beginning of the CBT therapy session and 10 sessions later. Results Our results show a significant effect of the CBT therapy to sleep maintenance symptoms through treating everyday ruminations opposite to treating only nightly ruminations on sleeping quality (F(1, 31)= 55,358 p<0,01 η2 = 0,641). The significant improvement in sleep quality only were shown in the subgroup of everyday rumination CBT group (N=17, M=7,88 SD=2,57), but not in the subgroup of nightly ruminations CBT group (N=16, M=9,87, SD=1,92). Conclusion Based on our preliminary findings, treating everyday worries with CBT therapy affect sleep maintenance insomnia, while treating only nightly ruminations and worries of sleeping difficulties would not improve sleeping problems and depressive mood. Support No

Interaction effects of the COMT and DRD4 genes with anxiety-related traits on selective attention.

The study investigated whether the DRD4 and COMT genes can modify relations between trait anxiety and selective attention. Two hundreds and sixty-six subjects performed a visual search task in which they had to find words looking through a sheet with rows of letters. After finishing the first sheet the subject was presented the second one, this time with an instruction to perform the task as quickly and accurate as possible. To study top-down attention, the number of correctly identified words (accuracy) and the time for completion of each trial were analyzed. To study bottom-up attention, the letters 'o' and 'n' were written in green, whilst the others were in black, and subjects were asked whether they had noticed that 2-3 minutes after the task completion. Genotypes for the COMT Val158Met and DRD4 VNTR-48 polymorphisms and TCI Harm Avoidance and MMPI Depression scales' scores were obtained as well. High anxious individuals showed a more pronounced increase in accuracy in the second trial and more profound processing of irrelevant stimuli (colored letters). There was a significant interaction effect of DRD4 and Harm avoidance on the accuracy dynamics F(1, 210), = 7.65, p = .006, η2 = .04. Among DRD4 long allele carriers, high anxious subjects significantly improved accuracy (p = .013) and tended to slow speed, while those with lower Harm avoidance demonstrated the opposite trend. These effects were more robust in less educated individuals. It was concluded that the DRD4 polymorphism may modify the influence of trait anxiety on the speed-accuracy tradeoff.

Improvement in depression associated with partial epilepsy in patients treated with lamotrigine

Interictal depression is common in patients with epilepsy and it significantly impacts quality of life. Previous studies indicate that lamotrigine may have antidepressant properties. Thirteen adults with uncontrolled partial seizures and concomitant depression were evaluated using measures of depression [Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the MMPI Depression Scale] and anxiety [Spielberger’s State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)] to test the effects of lamotrigine on mood. Evaluations after 5 weeks and again after 3 months of lamotrigine treatment demonstrated significant improvement in depression and anxiety. Mean MADRS overall scores were significantly lower than pretreatment baseline at the 5-week and 3-month evaluations. The mean MMPI Depression score was significantly lower than baseline at the 3-month evaluation. State anxiety scores were significantly reduced from baseline after 5 weeks, but not at 3 months, whereas Trait anxiety scores were reduced from baseline at the 5-week and 3-month evaluations.

Validity of the Beck Depression Inventory, MMPI, and Rorschach in assessing adolescent depression

The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the MMPI Depression scale (MMPI–D), and the Rorschach Depression Index (DEPI) in measuring adolescent depression. Retroactive charts of 118 hospitalized adolescents were divided into depressed ( n=66) and nondepressed ( n=52) groups, based on the psychiatric diagnosis. Results indicated significant differences between the means of the two groups on the BDI ( p<0.00001) and the MMPI–D scale ( p<0.0001), establishing concurrent validity for these measures of depression. Correlation coefficients among the three measures of depression indicated a significant relationship between the BDI and the MMPI–D scale ( p<0.01), again supporting the concurrent validity of these instruments. Predictive utility was determined for each of the three instruments individually and in combination, with results indicating that the BDI and MMPI–D scales alone and in combination significantly discriminated depressed from nondepressed adolescents. The MMPI–D scale alone was the most accurate measure in classifying the participants into their respective groups. The DEPI was not established as a valid predictor of adolescent depression.

Levels of depression on the st-depression adjective check lists as measured by the MMPI-D scale, the beck depression inventory, and the center for epidemiologic studies depression scale

Four levels of depression were established on the ST-Depression Adjective Check Lists in terms of the following criterion measures: the Beck Depression Inventory, the MMPI Depression Scale, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.

Psychological Status, Syndromatic Measures, and Compliance with Nasal CPAP Therapy for Sleep Apnea

38 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea were asked to complete 2 weeks of rating symptoms, physical examination, diagnostic polysomnography, and MMPI testing prior to being placed on nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Six months later, 26 (72.2%) of the 36 subjects available for follow-up showed continued compliance. A regression analysis conducted with those 28 subjects who completed all pretreatment measures showed that continued therapy was predicted by such pretreatment measures as patients' body mass index, ratings of daytime sleepiness and nocturnal sleep quality, and MMPI Depression and Hypochondriasis scale scores (R2 = 0.63). Eventual compliers had a higher Body Mass Index, reported less daytime sleepiness and better nocturnal sleep quality, and scored lower on the MMPI D and Hs scales prior to treatment than did the noncompliers. A linear discriminant function analysis with analog cross-validation showed these five predictors would identify approximately 80% of eventual noncompliers and 97% of those who display compliance. It was concluded that subjective report and personality measures may be useful in predicting long-term use. Additional studies are needed to assess the clinical significance of the noted MMPI scale elevations among sleep apnea patients in general and among those patients who display eventual noncompliance.

Confounding Factors in the Measurement of Depression in HIV

Our study investigates the nature of elevated depression scores on the MMPI-168 in human-immunodeficiency-virus- (HIV-)infected individuals. Comparison of MMPI scales, factor scores, and individual depression item endorsement rates were made between three groups of homosexual/bisexual men: asymptomatic HIV-1 seropositives (n = 156), symptomatic HIV-1 seropositives (n = 156), and a comparison group of HIV-1 seronegatives (n = 117). Elevated scores were found on the MMPI depression scale for all three groups, with HIV infection and the presence of symptoms being associated with significant elevations in depression. Analyses of these elevated scores through the use of factor scores and individual item analyses strongly suggest that endorsement of items related to physical symptoms and neuropsychological complaints accounted for much of the difference in overall depression scores between samples. Implications are discussed for measurement and diagnosis of depression in HIV populations.

Frontal Hemisphere Lateralization and Depressive Personality Traits

To assess the relationship between hemispheric differences in information processing and interhemispheric asymmetries in terms of brain bioelectrical activity, we correlated scores on the MMPI Depression scale with interhemispheric asymmetry, measured as peak amplitude and latency of the P3 component of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) at the frontocortical region of 14 healthy unselected volunteers (8 men and 6 women) who were about to start a course in autogenic training. The sample was subdivided into two groups on the basis of the median score on the MMPI Depression scale. Subjects scoring above the median showed a right lateralization at the frontocentral region and a significantly shorter P3 latency at the right hemisphere compared to the left.

MMPI measures of impulsivity and depression correlate with CSF 5-HIAA and HVA in depression but not schizophrenia

Recent studies have linked impulsivity with CSF concentrations of both 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and homovanillic acid (HVA). One work found a negative correlation between the MMPI psychopathic deviate (Pd) scale and 5-HIAA in personality disordered men (Brown et al., 1982). We found that the 5-HIAA/Pd correlation extends ( P < 0.05) to unmedicated depressed patients ( n = 21). A trend was found between HVA and Pd in depression. There was no relationship between either metabolite and the Pd scale in unmedicated schizophrenics ( n = 24). A significant inverse correlation was found between the MMPI depression scale and CSF HVA but not 5-HIAA in the depressed patients.

Validity of the MMPI Depression scale for outpatients.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Depression scale (Scale D) is used widely by clinicians and researchers, yet evidence suggests that this scale may not represent a valid measure of depression. It has been demonstrated among inpatients, for example, that D scores (vs. total scale) represent truer measures of depression. The present study was designed to examine special properties of D using patients (N=87) with milder forms of maladjustment (outpatients)

Validity of the MMPI Depression scale for outpatients.

Validity of the MMPI Depression scale for outpatients.

Neurotic and psychosomatic disorders interdependence in terms of the search activity concept

There are no correlations between MMPI Hysteria (Hs) and Depression (D) scales in psychosomatic patients in contrast to other patients with somatic disturbances, neurotic disturbances, and in healthy subjects. The roles of depression and hypochondria in the dynamics of psychosomatic disturbances are discussed according to the search activity concept. It is suggested that hypochondriacal complaints are prognostically favorable in comparison with anxiety-depression complaints.

MMPI item subtlety: another look.

This study examined the item subtlety-face validity issue by comparing MMPI Depression scale items rated in terms of psychopathology-in-general vs. specific depression criteria. The study also evaluated the influence of number of definitional descriptors and the meaning attributed to the neutral rating. Results showed substantial correlations among ratings obtained by different procedures, but many differences in subtle-neutral-obvious classifications. Number of descriptors did not effect ratings, although these results might not be found for less familiar constructs. Most raters took "neutral" to mean unrelated. These findings suggest that the inconsistencies in this research area are related to definitional problems and methodological ambiguities.

Situational-specificity of motivational differences between depressed and nondepressed subjects.

Performance on an easy or a difficult coding task for 4 90-sec. repetitions by 15 college women who showed depressive symptoms on the Beck Depression Inventory and the MMPI-Depression Scale and 15 who did not indicated no support for a psychological or motivational deficit in depression. Replication with clinically depressed persons is recommended.

Relation of depression to anger and hostility constructs.

To understand better the relationship between depression and various constructs of anger and hostility, 112 university students were administered the MMPI Depression scale, the Hostility and Direction of Hostility Questionnaire, the Overcontrolled Hostility Scale, the Anger Expression Scale, and the State-Trait Anger Scale. Among depressed subjects there was a more intense experience of hostility, particularly inwardly directed hostility, and a diminished sense of control over anger or a disinclination to manage anger.

Occupational stress and behavioral change.

For 25 secretaries employed at Laurentian University, scores on the MMPI Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Questionnaire, Self-esteem Inventory, Jenkins Activity Survey, and Occupational Stress Questionnaires showed no significant change in behavior associated with occupational stress. Characteristics 'hard-driving' and 'speed-impatience' were predictors of Type A behavior.

Comparison of the validities of the Beck, Zung, and MMPI Depression scales.

Comparison of the validities of the Beck, Zung, and MMPI Depression scales.

Homogeneous scales for the neurotic triad of the MMPI.

This study used item statistics for the nonduplicated items of the MMPI and the CPI to develop homogeneous scales for the neurotic triad (Hs, D, Hy) of the MMPI. The construction and partial cross-validation of scales were based on data from a predominantly clinical sample of 563 male subjects and 347 female subjects. Two non-overlapping scales of high internal consistency were developed which contained embedded subscales designed to be relatively independent of factor dimensions previously identified in the data. The first of the two scales comprised items exclusively related to health concern, and the second was a more concentrated measure of poor morale than the MMPI Depression scale. The nature of the revised scales was analyzed in relation to the standard MMPI scales and factor dimensions from previous research. Implications of the study for development of an hierarchical inventory were discussed.

Assessment of depression in mentally retarded adults.

Depression and psychopathology were assessed in 110 adult patients (ages 18-71 years) classified as borderline, mildly, moderately, or severely mentally retarded. Patients completed modified versions of the Beck Depression Inventory, the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, the MMPI depression scale, the Thematic Apperception Test, and the Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults. Clinicians and ward personnel rated the patients on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and an informant version of the Psychopathology Instrument for Mentally Retarded Adults. The measures correlated significantly with each other and were consistently related to the diagnosis of depression.

On "the lateralization of pain".

The hypothesis put forth by Merskey and Watson [16] that pain, when lateralized, occurs more often on the left was tested in a sample of 264 patients seen at the University of Washington Pain Service. Contrary to the hypothesis, pain occurred with equal frequency on the left and the right. No differences were observed between patients with left and right lateralized pain on the MMPI, IBQ or Zung depression scales. The discrepancy between these findings and those of Merskey and Watson probably reflects differences in the populations studied, differences in the conventions used to define pain laterality, and the fact that the multiple statistical tests on a single sample used by Merskey and his colleagues lead to a large probability of obtaining spuriously significant results.