The Use of the MMPI-2 for the Assessment of Depressive and Psychotic Disorders

Abstract

Considering the normative changes incorporated into the MMPI-2 and the introduction of content scales, this study examined its usefulness for the diagnosis and assessment of depression and psychosis in a heterogeneous sample of 264 psychiatric inpatients. We examined the mean group profiles and diagnostic efficiency of single scales at specified cutoff scores for these conditions. We also conducted cross-validated stepwise regression using all the basic and content scales as well as hierarchical regression examining the incremental validity of the basic and content scales. In general, the MMPI-2 profiles were found to be sensitive to group differences and the derived regression equations proved to be stable and fairly good at classification; but single scales were less useful for diagnosis. Changes in norms made the MMPI-2 more specific than the MMPI, and the introduction of new content scales offered considerable additional clinical information and incremental validity.