We examined the convergent and discriminant validity of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) scales in predicting relevant historical variables, treatment success, and recidivism in offenders enrolled in a batterers' intervention program. We used a sample studied previously by Petroskey, Ben-Porath, and Erez (2002), which included an ethnically diverse group of 483 men enrolled in a psychoeducational batterer's intervention program. We coded various historical variables (e.g., criminal history, substance abuse problems, mental health treatment, anger problems, and amount of partner violence), treatment dismissal, and recidivism up to 1 year posttreatment. Correlational analyses with the historical variables provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity of the RC scales in this forensic sample. Regression analyses showed that these scales added to the historical variables in predicting treatment failure and recidivism. Relative risk analyses indicated the extent to which individuals entering treatment with elevated scores on RC4 and RC9 were at increased risk for these negative outcomes.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent (MMPI-A) and Millon Adolescent Clinical Inventory (MACI) are frequently used objective personality self-report measures. Given their widespread use, the purpose of the current study was to examine and compare the literature base for the two instruments. A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted between the years 1992 and 2007 using the PsycINFO Database. Results indicate the publication of 277 articles, books, book chapters, monographs, and dissertation abstracts on the MMPI-A. This was compared with the results of a comparable search for the MACI, which yielded 84 citations. The literature was further explored by determining the content of the topic areas addressed for both instruments. A particular focus was placed on the utility of the instruments with juvenile justice populations; scale means, standard deviations, and effect sizes calculated from this literature were examined. Results indicate that the use of the MMPI-A is supported by a substantial literature and a growing research base is also available for the MACI. Both instruments appear to provide useful results in juvenile justice settings.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) is an alternative version of the MMPI-2 and is useful for the differential diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. This study sought to assess the relationship between MMPI-2 Scale scores and psychiatric diagnoses, and to identify the scales that best predicted that a diagnosis would be assigned. The sample was comprised of participants who were administered the MMPI-2 between 2001 and 2010 at a university-based psychological services center, and participants were divided into diagnostic categories based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition, Text Revision diagnoses. Categories with enough participants to conduct statistical analyses were examined; these categories included participants who were diagnosed with substance-related disorders, depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and participants who were not given a psychiatric diagnosis.

No abstract

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is a phenomenon characterized by a tingling sensation in the scalp that spreads throughout the body in response to specific audio or visual stimuli, usually everyday objects or actions. Though nascent in development, research on ASMR is quickly growing through examination of biological, cognitive, and personality components, as well as comparisons with other similar phenomena like mindfulness. To date, only two other studies have examined ASMR with mindfulness, one as an enduring trait (del Campo, 2019), and the other as a momentary state of being (Fredborg et al., 2017). The goal of the present study was to further confirm the link between ASMR and mindfulness, by focusing on objective reports of ASMR versus traditional self-report methods. Additionally, the relationships between ASMR and personality traits and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community were assessed. A sample of 162 participants recruited from MTurk and the ASMR Subreddit completed a survey consisting of comprehensive demographic questions, the Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response Scale (ASMR-15), the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, and the Big Five Inventory-2. Analyses indicated that those who experience ASMR are more likely to experience mindfulness. Results also yielded significant correlations between ASMR and Negative Emotionality, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness. Additionally, those who identify as LGBTQ+ reported significantly higher scores on the ASMR-15 than those who identify as cisgender and heterosexual. The results of this study, conducted with a more general population, provided important new findings when compared to previous research about ASMR as well as confirmed previous links between ASMR and mindfulness.