Behavioral correlates for within-normal-limit MMPI profiles with and without elevated K in students at a university mental health center

Abstract

Young adults who were attending a college student mental health center and who obtained MMPI profiles with clinical scales within normal limits with and without elevated K were compared to all other patients at the center on 175 descriptors obtained from intake interviews. Those items that discriminated (x2, p less than .05) students who obtained these profile types from others are reported as tentative MMPI interpretive correlates for patients in similar settings. Correlates ranged from those indicative of situational difficulties to serious psychopathology, and clear sex differences were present. It is concluded that within-normal-limit profiles do not indicate psychological normality when they occur in such a setting and that useful interpretive information can be identified for these, as well as clinically elevated profile types.

Behavioral correlates of infrequent two-point MMPI code types at a university mental health center

“…(It should be noted, however, that Marks and Seernan [1963] based the descriptions for many of their profiles on five cases.) The effect of sex, found to be an important factor in the interpretation of other college student outpatient profiles (Kelley & King, 1978, in press a, in press b; King &. Kelley, 1977a, 1977b), is not discernable from the combined sex groupings.…”

“…After completion of data extraction from the files onto standard data forms and determination of base rates for each descriptor by sex and for the total sample, all MMPI profiles were sorted into groups by their highest two-point codes as suggested by Gynther et al (1973) with the following exceptions: (1) profiles with only one scale elevated above T score 70 were designated as "spike" profiles and categorized separately; (2) profiles in which all scales were within normal limits were segregated (Kelley & King, 1978); and (3) profiles with 2, 7, and 8 as the three highest scales also were classified separately (Kelley & King, 1979, Kelley & King, in press a). Eight two-point codes and two "spike" profiles (2 and 0) are presented here.…”

Diagnostic implications of markedly elevated MMPI Sc scale scores for nonhospitalized clients

“…Prior research indicates that the Sc scores do not serve as an adequate criterion for differentiating "normals" from "maladjusted" in either adolescents (Hathaway, Monachesi, & Salasin, 1970) or college students (Kelly & King, 1978;Wisdom, 1979). College males often score 60 or higher on this scale (e.g., Goodstein, 1954), and scores in the 70s are not uncommon.…”

“…A major problem, therefore, is to determine for any one client in a nonpsychiatric setting whether elevated scale scores signify chronic psychopathology conditions or acute "stress" reactions of essentially normal persons to significant psychological, physical, social, and/or environmental stressors.The interpretative significance of markedly elevated Sc scale scores for nonpsychiatric clients poses an especially difficult interpretative challenge. Prior research indicates that the Sc scores do not serve as an adequate criterion for differentiating "normals" from "maladjusted" in either adolescents (Hathaway, Monachesi, & Salasin, 1970) or college students (Kelly & King, 1978;Wisdom, 1979). College males often score 60 or higher on this scale (e.g., Goodstein, 1954), and scores in the 70s are not uncommon.…”

Psychological Needs Associated With MMPI-2 Scales in a Nonclinical Sample

“…The correlates of MMPI-2 scales will be refined and are likely to be setting specific (e.g., inpatient psychiatric, outpatient psychiatric, nonclinical samples). In fact, previous researchers have reported on MMPI correlates in nonclinical respondents (for college samples, see material summarized in Dahlstrom, Welsh, & Dahlstrom, 1972; see also Kelley & King, 1978;Nelson & Marks, 1985). In this study, we researched the psychological needs associated with MMPI-2 scale scores.…”