Further Evaluation of the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (M.H.Q.)

Abstract

Preliminary validation of the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (M.H.Q.) was described by Crown and Crisp (ig66). The M.H.Q. is a self-rating scale of psychoneurotic symptoms and traits comprising six sub-tests which are designed to measure free-floating anxiety (FFA), phobic anxiety (PHO), obsessional traits and symptoms (OBS), somatic concomitants of anxiety (SOM), depression (DEP), and hysteri cal personality traits (HYS). McKerracher, Loughnane and Watson (1968) used the Eysenck Personality Inventory (E.P.I.) and the M.H.Q. to delineate the personality of self-mutilating female psychopaths at Rampton Hospital compared with a matched group who had not behaved in this way during the previous year. There were no significant differences between the groups on the E.P.I. neuroticism, extraversion or lie scales. On the M.H.Q., totalscoresand three sub-test scores showed significant differences, which led to clinically relevant hypotheses to account for variations in the patients' behaviour. Mair and Crisp (1968) and Ryle and Lunghi (1969) used the M.H.Q., and the E.P.I. as well as the Kelly Repertory Grid to assess personality changes in individuals during psychotherapy.