Tested for five higher-order dimensions hypothesized to be common to the Interpersonal Style (ISI) and the Sixteen Personality Factor questionnaires among detoxified alcohol dependent inpatients (N=50). An oblique factor structure confirmed the factors expected, representing Self Control, Interpersonal Involvement, Emotional Stability,…

Evaluated the psychopathological features that may underlie or accompany Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome. Univariate analyses indicated that Tourette subjects scored higher on the following scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: Schizophrenia, Depression, Psychopathic Deviate, Psychasthenia and Hypochondriasis. The results…

Assessed patients with closure difficulty on the Bender-Gestalt (N=50) and patients with edging tendencies on the Bender-Gestalt (N=50) for possible personality traits associated with those drawing styles. Results did not support using clients' Bender-Gestalt drawing style as a basis for inferring personality traits. (LLL)

Compared a suicide-completion group to a psychiatric control sample on the 13 traditional MMPI scales, three experimental item pools, and eight profile patterns earlier described as indicative of suicidal tendencies (N=84). The results argue against the use of the MMPI at this time to predict suicide. (JAC)

Cluster analysis and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were used together to determine whether heterogeneous diagnostic groups could be identified in an inpatient psychiatric population. Comparison of four clustering techniques showed cluster analysis to be a poor diagnostic discriminator when compared to diagnostic groups. (NRB)

Evaluated 40 low back pain patients by a multidisciplinary team to identify the behavioral characteristics associated with functional and organic determinants of pain. Results indicated that behavioral observations of the orthopedists and the nursing staff revealed contrasting patterns of behavior for those patients classified as organic or…

Analyzed treatment outcome data for 102 headache patients who had been assigned randomly to receive either EMG biofeedback (N=70) or relaxation training (N=32). Analysis demonstrated that relaxation training was significantly more effective than biofeedback and that mixed headache patients improved significantly less than either migraine or…

Addressed normative aspects of recent Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory critical item sets in normals (N=123), inpatient alcoholics (N=383) and psychiatric inpatients (N=567). Results indicated that although pathological groups generally endorsed more critical items than normals, mean differences were not large. (LLL)

Compared diabetic (N=39) with nondiabetic chronic illness patients (N=20) and healthy controls (N=24). The chronic illness and the diabetic groups had significant elevations on the Hypochondriasis, Depression, and Hysteria scales of the Feschingbauer Abbreviated MMPI. For diabetics, results demonstrated a negligible effect of poor adjustment on…

Compared versions of the Beck Depression Inventory in psychiatric patients. The alpha coefficient for 598 inpatients and outpatients on the 1961 version was .88, and the alpha coefficient for 248 outpatients on the 1978 version was .86. Concluded that the internal consistencies of both versions were comparable. (JAC)

Examines factors of anxiety in the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale in 150 asthma, tuberculosis, and chronic pain patients. Key cluster analysis revealed five clusters: restlessness, embarrassment, sensitivity, physiological anxiety, and self-confidence. Embarrassment is fairly dependent on the other factors. (JAC)

Depressed (N=20) and nondepressed outpatients (N=20) and normal controls (N=20) rated the frequency with which they used various interpersonal behaviors in different social roles and emotional circumstances. Results showed that the three subject groups displayed similar patterns. This contradicts an invariant, trait-like interpersonal style among…

Cluster analyzed the MMPI profiles of 70 male chronic pain patients into four homogeneous subgroups. Mean composites for each subgrouping were entered into a PDP 11 computer to generate an objective actuarial narrative description. Findings appeared to extend and replicate the work of earlier investigators. (Author)

Cross-validated findings of Ludenia, et al. (1984) from two independent but similar samples of alcoholic inpatients (N=219) with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Form Y. Results indicated that the STAI (Form Y) is a stable instrument across time when used to assess anxiety in an alcoholic population. (LLL)

Investigated the relationship of the MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC) to personality type and level of emotional distress using Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory scores of 38 alcoholic males. No relationship was found between the MAC and magnitude of psychological distress, as measured by T scores. (JAC)