Using the MMPI-2 to Predict Symptom Reduction During Psychotherapy in a Sample of Community Outpatients

Abstract

In the present study, potential MMPI-2 predictors of psychotherapy outcome were examined in a community clinical sample of 51 patients seeking treatment at a university training clinic. Results indicated that particular MMPI-2 scales (L, F, Pd, Pa, Sc, Trt) were the most predictive of initial levels of patient distress, whereas three other clinical scales (Hs, D, Hy) were significantly associated with actual symptom reduction over time. The clinical implications of these data include the use of the MMPI-2 in clinical practice as a means to frame the provision of direct feedback to patients regarding the likelihood of treatment response, which in turn, might actually have therapeutic benefits. The limitations of the study are reviewed and suggestions for future research are offered, including the potential use of widely known and utilized instruments in helping to predict response to psychotherapy.

MMPI-2 characteristics of the Old Order Amish: A comparison of clinical, nonclinical, and United States normative samples.

“…In terms of our Clinical scale hypotheses, we expected Pd and Ma—scales reflecting an externalizing and acting out coping style (see Groth-Marnat, 2003)—to be significantly lower for the Amish nonclinical group when compared to the United States normative sample and similar to the Amish outpatients due to prior personality research suggesting the Amish are more conforming, conscientious, shy, restrained, and accommodating than non-Amish (Wittmer, 1971). However, surprisingly, the Pd scale reached a T score of 50 for the Amish nonclinical group, comparable with the United States normative sample, and was significantly higher for the Amish outpatients, who scored similarly to non-Amish outpatient adults (see Castro, Gordon, Brown, Anestis, & Joiner, 2008; Michael et al, 2009). Yet, as predicted, the Ma scale was within the normal range for both Amish groups, slightly below the United States normative sample.…”

The Combined Application of MMPI-2 and OQ-45 to Detect and Measure the Effectiveness of Psychological University Counselling

“…Interestingly, the study conducted by Michael, Furr, Masters, Collett, Spielmans, Ritter, Veeder, Treiber and Cullum (2009) involved the combined administration of both the MMPI-2 questionnaire and the OQ-45 scale in a clinical sample. In this way, it was possible to identify potential MMPI-2 predictors of psychotherapy outcomes.…”

Predictors of change in cognitive processing therapy for veterans in a residential PTSD treatment program

“…Tendencies to overreport pathology on the MMPI‐2 have been associated with poorer treatment outcomes (Hyer et al, ; Perconte & Griger, ). An MMPI‐2 profile with low scores on the Lie (L) scale or elevated Infrequency (F) scale scores may be suggestive of overreporting, and this configuration has been found to predict high levels of initial distress on other self‐report measures (Michael et al, ). The MMPI‐2 also has several clinical scales that are pertinent to PTSD and have been found to be related to treatment outcomes.…”

“…The MMPI‐2 also has several clinical scales that are pertinent to PTSD and have been found to be related to treatment outcomes. For example, individuals with elevations on scales associated with antisocial characteristics, depression, and hypochondriasis/somatization have been shown to demonstrate less improvement during treatment than others without elevations on these scales (Forbes et al, ; Michael et al, ). However, a recent study using secondary data from a CPT trial examined the interaction between personality disorders and treatment outcome for female rape survivors and reported that reductions in PTSD symptoms were associated with change in Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) symptoms at follow‐up and that decreases in ASPD symptoms predicted change in PTSD symptoms at follow‐up (Bovin, Wolf, & Resick, ).…”