Separation of brain-damaged from psychiatric patients with ability and personality measures

Abstract

skills training: $he effects of behavior rehearsal in groups on dating skills. Journal of Cmnaeling Psychology, 1975, 22, 224-230. MAHER, B. (ED.) . Clinical psychology and personality: Tha seleckd papers of George Kelly. New York: John Wdey, 1969. OSQOOD, C. E. Speculation on the structure of interpersonal intentions. Behavkmd Sci.5nca, 1970, PHILLIPB, E. L. The social skiue basis of psychopathology: Alterndiues lo abnormal psychology and psychdtry.Previous research indicates that many brain-damage screening tests lack the ability to se arate organic from functional patients at a satisfactory level. However the 8mith Symbol-Digit Modalities Test, the Benton Visual Retention +eat, the Background Interference Procedure variation of the Minnesota Percepto-Diagnostic Test, and the MMPI Psychiatric-Organic scale have shown some promise in earlier studies. Their abilities to separate braindamaged patients from five functional samples in a psychiatric setting were com ared here. The Smith proved capable of discnrmnating organics from all &nctional eamples both before and after demographic matching. The Benton and the Minnesota Percepto-Dia nmtic Test se arated our organics from our functional groups before mat$ng, but res& with them after matchin were unencouraging. The P-0 scale separated the organics from four of &e five functional samples before matchin and two afterward. The combined use of the P-0 and Smith provided a hig%er level of discrimination than that attained with either alone, correctly identifying 90% of the organics and 79% of the functional Ss. CHERYLBURANENANDJOYCEWOLD

Separation of brain-damaged from psychiatric patients with the combined use of an ability and a personality test: A validation study with a Puerto Rican population

“…The Smith Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (Form W; Smith, 1973) is a timed test in which the subjects are asked to match numbers with their designated symbols within a time limit of 90 seconds. The aim of the Smith is to measure the ability to translate geometric symbols into digits using a provided key (Watson et al, 1981). The MMPI (P-0) scale is a 56-item test of questions from the MMPI, in which the subjects have to respond true or false to descriptive statements that pertain to their own problems, their feelings about their families, and their attitudes about their sex life.…”

“…The first approach is characterized by the use of ability measures. Among the ability-based tests that have been investigated -e.g., WAIS Performance Tests (Wat- son, 1965, 1972), Reitan-Halstead Organic Test Battery (Watson, 1971b;Watson, Thomas, Felling, & Andersen, 1968a), Bender-Gestalt, Memory for Designs and Benton Visual Retention Test (Watson, 1968) -the Smith Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (Form W;Smith, 1973) has had the most encouraging results, with an 82% mean hit rate in an organic and a combined functional group sample (Watson et al, 1981). The second approach is characterized by the utilization of measures that tap personality functioning, particularly the MMPI (e.g., the MMPI [used with the Hs-PT index; Watson et al, 19781, MMPI [Sc-0 scale; Watson, 1971a], and with the MMPI [P-0 scale; MacNeill & Wilson, 19811).…”

“…The second approach is characterized by the utilization of measures that tap personality functioning, particularly the MMPI (e.g., the MMPI [used with the Hs-PT index; Watson et al, 19781, MMPI [Sc-0 scale; Watson, 1971a], and with the MMPI [P-0 scale; MacNeill & Wilson, 19811). Among the MMPI scales investigated, the P-0 scale has had the most encouraging results, with a mean hit rate of 69% (Watson et al, 1981) and an overall hit rate of 78% (MacNeill & Wilson, 1981).…”

“…In a pioneer study, Watson et al (1981) proved not only that the combined use of an abilitybased and personality test resulted in greater mean hit rates, but also that the specific combined use of the SDMT and the MMPI (P-0), among other combinations of tests, produced the most encouraging results by correctly identifying 90% of the organic sample and 79% of the functional/psychiatric sample, an overall mean hit rate of 84.5%.…”

“…The purpose of this study was to validate the results obtained by Watson et al (1981) by utilizing the SDMT and the P -0 scale of the MMPI in combination with a Spanish-speaking sample.…”