Relationship between Personality Disorders and Clinical Symptoms in Psychiatric Inpatients as Measured by the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory

Abstract

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory is a 175-item psychodiagnostic instrument which is based on Millon's theory of psychopathology, in which Millon suggests clinical symptoms result from an exacerbation of an individual's personality style when under stress. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relations of personality disorders to clinical symptoms as measured by the inventory. The sample of 245 inpatients from a state psychiatric hospital completed the Millon inventory between January, 1987 and April. 1989 Stepwise multiple-regression analyses were conducted to ascertain the relationship between personality disorders and symptoms. The 9 clinical symptom scales served as criterion variables while the personality-disorder scales served as predictor variables. The results were generally consistent with expectation and are discussed in terms of Millon's theory.