MMPI results: A comparison of trauma victims,psychogenic pain,and patients with organic disease

Made comparison using MMPI T scores on three private psychiatric subpopulations: Post-trauma patients, patients with organically based illness, and patients with psychogenic pain (complaints functional in origin) (N = 78). The standard 3 validity and 10 clinical scales were used to evaluate possible differences among the groups. Differences were presented among the groups on scales 3 (HY), 9 (MA), and (F). Individual profiles also were assessed. In patients with a 1-3/3-1 profile, the psychogenic group had significantly higher elevation over the post-trauma and organic groups. In patients with 8 (SC) or 9 (MA) high both with and without 1-3/3-1 high, differences were found; the post-trauma and organic groups showed marked elevation over those in the psychogenic group. Results indicate the MMPI to be a viable aid in distinguishing between patients with post-trauma stress disorder vs. those with functional disorders. The data suggest that MMPI profiles of patients with post-trauma stress disorder more closely resemble the MMPI profiles of patients who have organic disease with pain caused by organic pathology than the profiles of patients with psychogenic pain and/or hypochondriasis.