A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior

This study applied a functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior (SMB) among adolescent psychiatric inpatients. On the basis of past conceptualizations of different forms of self-injurious behavior, the authors hypothesized that SMB is performed because of the automatically reinforcing (i.e., reinforced by oneself; e.g., emotion regulation) and/or socially reinforcing (i.e., reinforced by others; e.g., attention, avoidance-escape) properties associated with such behaviors. Data were collected from 108 adolescent psychiatric inpatients referred for self-injurious thoughts or behaviors. Adolescents reported engaging in SMB frequently, using multiple methods, and having an early age of onset. Moreover, the results supported the structural validity and reliability of the hypothesized functional model of SMB. Most adolescents engaged in SMB for automatic reinforcement, although a sizable portion endorsed social reinforcement functions as well. These findings have direct implications for the understanding, assessment, and treatment of SMB.     

Resiliency reconsidered: contemporary MMPI normative data for Barron's Ego Strength Scale

Although it is more than 30 years old, Es remains one of the most frequently scored of the MMPI supplemental scales. However, there have been significant changes in MMPI response patterns among adults since the Es scale was first developed. New normative tables for the Es scale based on a contemporary census-matched sample of normal adults are presented along with figures that illustrate changes associated with age and sex.     

Role-played and hypnotically induced simulation of psychopathology on the MMPI

The differential effects of role-played vs. hypnotically induced simulation of a paranoid syndrome on diagnostic and validity scales of the MMPI were tested with 30 female undergraduate Ss. Hypnotized Ss given the paranoid syndrome suggestion simulated the MMPI more accurately than did roleplaying Ss. The F scale and Gough F-K index of dissimulation identified the role-playing group, but not the hypnosis with simulation suggestion group. It was concluded that further refinement of the validity scales of the MMPI is needed to improve their effectiveness in detecting deception on this test.     

含丹参磷酸钙骨水泥的制备和表征

目的探索含中药的磷酸钙骨水泥(CPC)的制备方法,并表征其理化性能.方法采用两种方法制备含中药的CPC,第一种通过在液相中加入中药香丹注射液(主要成分为丹参),第二种用喷雾干燥的方法制备含中药丹参的磷酸氢钙粉末作为CPC的主要成分之一,通过固相加入中药.采用万能材料试验机测试其力学性能,采用微量热分析仪、红外光谱仪、X射线衍射仪表征含丹参CPC的基本理化性能.结果通过喷雾干燥的方法加入丹参不仅比通过液相加入更有效,而且加入丹参后,其理化性能变化甚微.结论可用喷雾干燥法制备含中药的磷酸氢钙粉末,作为起始原料制备含丹参的CPC.     

Differential rates of psychopathology symptoms in periodic limb movement disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, psychophysiological insomnia, and insomnia with psychiatric disorder.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns and relative intensity of psychopathology, as measured by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), in 108 patients with either psychophysiological insomnia (PI; n=20), insomnia with psychiatric disorder (IPD; n=30), periodic limb movement disorder (PLM; n=28), or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; n=30). DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: University sleep disorders center. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Subjects completed the MMPI prior to overnight diagnostic polysomnographic assessment followed by Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). Seventy five percent of the entire sample had at least one MMPI elevation (T>70). Groups showed significant baseline differences in age, BMI, and MSLT latency (all ps<.05). Logistic regression indicated that even after statistically controlling for these three diagnostic covariates, MMPI elevation was more likely among PLM and IPD patients than OSA or PI patients (all ps<.05). Followup pairwise comparisons indicated that this same pattern of group differences occurred for the Depression, Psychasthenia, and Schizophrenia scales (all ps<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of age, obesity, and daytime sleepiness, patients with untreated PLM or IPD are more likely to experience clinically significant psychological difficulties than those with either OSA or PI. These differences are most likely to be manifested in terms of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms (tension, worry, guilt), social alienation, and diminished mental concentration. Finally, PLM may be associated with greater MMPI elevations than previously suspected, and agree with earlier clinical reports of high rates of psychiatric treatment in PLM.     

Anterior-posterior locus of lesion and personality: Support for the caudality hypothesis

Investigated the effects of discrete brain lesions on MMPI performance in well-matched samples of patients with anterior and posterior injuries. Because of the nature of the samples and careful matching for potentially confounding variables, particular emphasis could be given to the study of brainbehavior relationships. Patients with posterior lesions produced a significantly more abnormal composite MMPI profile, had a consistent tendency to produce elevated (70+) individual MMPI scales, and had individual profiles that were universally rated as abnormal using standard criteria. The differential MMPI patterns exhibited by these two samples were compatible with traditionally held clinical hypotheses with regard to distinct personality differences secondary to focal lesions in the caudal plane. It is our conclusion that lesion caudality does have a differential effect upon MMPI performance when factors such as cognitive, motor, and sensory defects are controlled adequately. The implications are that this effect is locus specific and is not necessarily related to the degree of other neurobehavioral impairment, as has been hypothesized previously.     

Effect of urea on the hemagglutinating and complement-fixing antigens of type 2 Dengue virus

Sephadex G-200 filtration was used for fractionating dengue type 2 (DEN-2)-infected suckling mouse brain (SMB) supernatant fluids. The high-molecular-weight fraction, which was eluted in the void volume, showed no increase in type specificity when tested against immune ascitic fluid to the four prototype dengue viruses. A void-volume fraction obtained after the infected SMB supernatant fluids were treated with urea displayed significant increases in complement fixation (CF) type specificity. Immune ascitic fluid prepared against the more typespecific DEN-2 antigen demonstrated neutralizing ability and greater CF type specificity. When DEN-2 sucrose-acetone-extracted hemagglutinating (HA) antigens were treated with 6 m urea at 37 C for various time intervals, all HA antigen was destroyed in 15 min. Urea treatment of infected SMB supernatant fluids indicated that the CF antigens were more stable to the effect of urea than were the HA antigens. After urea treatment of the SMB supernatant fluids, the CF type specificity increased as the hemagglutination inhibition titer decreased.     

综合医院躯体形式障碍患者MMPI特征

目的 :了解躯体形式障碍患者MMPI及临床特征 ,并探讨其可能的机制。方法 :对他科转诊的综合医院躯体形式障碍患者 (符合CCMD - 3标准 ) 30例进行MMPI测试 ,与首诊于咨询门诊的 139例神经症性障碍患者作了比较 ,并分析两组诈病指数的差异。结果 :躯体形式障碍患者除Hs、F量表分高于首诊组 (P <0 .0 5 )外 ,其余均无差异 ;两组诈病指数差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :躯体形式障碍患者MMPI剖图特点与神经症性障碍患者无本质差异 ,且并未比神经症性障碍患者有更多的伪装倾向     

Personality traits and stress sensitivity in migraine patients

A review of the literature on migraine and personality yielded strong evidence for secondary neuroticism and increased sensitivity to stress in patients with migraine. This study focused on the identification of specific stressful situations and coping strategies in such patients. We conducted a psychodiagnostic study of 30 migraine patients in accordance with the criteria of the Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society and 30 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, and social status. All participants completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and special questionnaires on stressful situations and coping strategies. The migraine patients had higher neuroticism and introversion scores on the MMPI than the healthy subjects. There was a positive correlation between the neuroticism score and headache duration (number of hours per week). The patients used coping strategies characterized by the development of physical symptoms, social isolation, and preoccupation with stress. They rated themselves as less calm, less capable of relaxing, and more irritable than did the healthy controls subjects, and they responded more often with internal tension, especially in work and other achievement situations. Questionnaires that measure constructs dealing with stress yield information that is more relevant for the treatment of migraines than do global personality tests.     

Es scale level and correlates of MMPI elevation: alcohol abuse vs. MMPI scores in treated alcoholics

Examined the impact of MMPI Ego Strength (Es) level on the size of Pearson correlation coefficients computed between scores for posttreatment alcohol use and MMPI scores on standard and research scales and indices in a group of 54 (45 men, 9 women, mean age 41.3 years) treated alcoholics. In line with theoretical expectations, no significant (p greater than .05) coefficients were found in the group of high Es scorers (T scores above 50; N = 30) for any of the MMPI variables. In contrast, about one-half of the coefficients in the low Es group (T scores below 50; N = 24) were significant (p less than or equal to .05): All were in the expected direction; the more intensive the alcohol use, the higher the MMPI scores. The low and high Es groups did not significantly differ in respect to age, education, gender ratio, and posttreatment alcohol use (t-tests, p greater than .05).     

CAVEing the MMPI for an optimism-pessimism scale: Seligman's attributional model and the assessment of explantory style

Research based on Seligman's model indicates that a pessimistic explanatory style predicts increased frequency of depression, poorer physical health, and lower levels of achievement. The data show that persons who have a pessimistic outlook on life are more frequent users of the medical and mental health care delivery systems. This paper describes the development of a bipolar MMPI Optimism-Pessimism (PSM) scale that is based on the results of a technique–Content Analysis of Verbatim Explanation (CAVE)–applied to the MMPI. Reliability and validity indices show that the PSM scale is highly accurate and consistent with Seligman's theory. Identification of the patient's explanatory style may lead to improved management because intervention measures can be directed more accurately according to the patient's personality style. The new scale also will allow researchers to use existing MMPI data to explore relationships between explanatory style and various outcome variables and behavioral correlates.     

MMPI, personality dysfunction and the dexamethasone suppression test in major depression

In this study we examined the relationship of psychopathology and personality dysfunction to neuroendocrine functioning. MMPI profiles were examined for 30 psychiatric inpatients with major depression who were suppressors (60%) and nonsuppressors (40%) on the dexamethasone suppression test. There were no differences between suppressors and nonsuppressors on any of the MMPI scales or on DSM-III Axis-II diagnosis. When subdivided according to T-score elevations above 70 on MMPI scales 4 and 6, or 4 and 9, 30% of the sample, however, met criteria for personality dysfunction. Furthermore, a significantly higher proportion of suppressors (50%) evidenced personality dysfunction than did the nonsuppressors (8%). This suggests that certain MMPI scales are able to identify a subgroup of depressed patients with personality disturbances who also have a hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction.     

Participation in structured diabetes self-management education programs and its associations with self-management behaviour – a nationwide population-based study

ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between participation in structured diabetes self-management education programs (DSME) and self-management behaviour (SMB) in routine care.MethodsThe study included 864 ever- and 515 never-DSME participants from the population-based survey German Health Update (GEDA) 2014/2015. SMB and clinical care variables were: Following a diet plan, keeping a diabetes diary, holding a diabetes pass, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), foot self-examination (FSE), retinopathy screening, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) measurement and examination of the feet by clinicians (FEC). We conducted logistic regression analyses for association of DSME-participation with SMB, adjusting for various variables.ResultsDSME-participation was significantly associated with SMB including following a diet plan (OR 1.88 [95% CI 1.21–2.92]), keeping a diabetes journal (OR 3.83 [2.74–5.36]), holding a diabetes health passport (OR 6.11 [4.40–8.48]), SMBG (OR 2.96 [2.20–3.98]) and FSE (OR 2.64 [2.01–3.47]) as well as retinopathy screening (OR 3.30 [2.31–4.70]), HbA1c measurement (OR 2.58 [1.88–3.52]), and FEC (OR 3.68 [2.76–4.89]) after adjusting for confounders.ConclusionDSME-participation is associated with higher frequencies of various SMB and clinical care variables in routine care. Never-DSME attenders are more likely not to receive retinopathy screening, FEC and HbA1c measurements as recommended.Practice implicationsClinicians should refer diabetes patients to a DSME and ensure a regular follow up for never-DSME attenders.     

Borderline personality disorder: replication of MMPI profiles

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a particular MMPI profile is associated with borderline personality disorder (BPD). Forty-seven symptomatic volunteers who satisfied DSM-III criteria for borderline and/or schizotypal personality disorder were given the full MMPI. Concordance of MMPI profile for BDP confirmed the findings of four previous studies. Elevations were noted on F, D, PD, PA, PT, and SC. A subject's profile with this pattern is interpreted from item content as generally neurotic, dysthymic, socially withdrawn, suspicious, apathetic toward the future, affectively erratic, unable to anticipate the consequences of his or her own behavior, and unable to judge the social desirability of his or her own behavior. Correlations of the foregoing scales with a total BPD score ranged from .44 to .77, with a multiple R of .80 and a cross validity of .77. The accuracy of predicting actual BPD and non-BPD cases was 89%. Accordingly, the MMPI could be used as a coarse screen for BPD casefinding in that patients with the MMPI profiles above should be selected for more thorough diagnostic workup. In the future, the MMPI might be linked to other variables, such as drug response, to understand further the pathophysiology of BPD.     

Relationship between distortions in self-perception of depression and psychopathology.

The present study investigated the relationship between distortions in self-perceived depression and generalized psychopathology. Alcoholic inpatients were asked to choose the more depressed patient in each pair of a paired-comparison rating task. Patients also were administered the Beck Depression Inventory as an objective measure of depression and the MMPI as a measure of overall psychopathology. Individuals who had a marked discrepancy between their self-perceived and objectively measured level of depression had significant elevations (T-score greater than 70) on 5 of the 10 MMPI clinical scales. The High Distortion group, whose mean MMPI profile was categorized as psychiatric, appeared to be more depressed, anxious, socially immature and alienated and to have increased difficulties in thinking and communication than Ss in the Low Distortion group. These findings substantiate the hypothesis that an individual's inability to perceive accurately the level of his depression is related to a greater degree of overall psychopathology.     

Prediction of help-seeking with the MMPI: The problem of base rates

The usefulness of combined elevation of the Depression and Psychasthenia scales of the MMPI as a predictor of psychological help-seeking was investigated for two classes at a small liberal arts college for men. Counseling service use rates during the 4 years of college for all students who scored at or above T = 60 on both MMPI scales (N = 83) were compared with rates for all other students (N = 269). Students in the high Depression-Psychasthenia group were significantly more likely to seek counseling during their freshman years than were other students (p < 0.05). Among counselees the high MMPI group also made significantly more visits to the service (p < 0.05). Application of a Bayesian rule disclosed that the MMPI measure would have improved decision accuracy only with respect to the prediction that a student would come in for counseling at some time during college. In this population, the MMPI measure is both a valid and a useful predictor.     

MMPI response patterns of college students: comparisons to adolescents and adults.

The consistent finding that normal adolescents endorse more MMPI items in the deviant direction than do normal adults, reflected in reliable adolescent-adult differences on the item, scale, and profile levels, suggests a developmental perspective. This perspective also implies that college students' MMPI mean raw scores might be expected to fall between means typically obtained for adolescents and adults. We examined 17 studies of college volunteer samples to evaluate this hypothesis. Findings showed that college student mean values do fall between adolescent and adult means, most strikingly on scales F, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9. It is recommended that more attention be given to the status of college students as a special population with distinctive MMPI characteristics.     

An abbreviation of the MMPI with increased comprehensibility and readability

A 167-item short form of the MMPI, the Improved Readability Form (IRF), was shown to contain items that were more readable, more stable, and less ambiguous than excluded items. MMPIs were obtained on 60 medical and psychiatric patients, presumably of normal intelligence, and raw scores for the IRF were calculated and correlated with the scales of the full MMPI. In addition, equations that allowed prediction of full-scale scores were calculated on the initial sample and applied to a second sample of 60 Ss with IQs between 80 and 110. For both samples, average IRF correlations with the full MMPI slightly exceeded corresponding correlations for the MMPI-168. Also, in cross-validation the IRF showed a greater correspondence with the MMPI in terms of clinical scale high points than did the MMPI-168. These results suggest that the IRF may function as well as available short forms with persons of normal and near normal intelligence and that, furthermore, it offers promise for use with Ss who are unable to understand the complete MMPI.