Using the MCMI-I to diagnose personality disorders in inpatients: AXIS I/axis N associations and sex differences

Abstract

The present investigation examined the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI-I) personality disorder (PD) diagnostic categories and personality disorder dimensional (BR) scores in 87 patients, to evaluate Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (Third Editioflevised) (DSM-III/R) statements as regards Axis l/Axis II associations and PD sex differences. Patients formed three clearly diagnosed Axis I groups: a schizophrenic group (n = 35); an affective group (n = 30); and a mixed group who were given a range of nonaffective. nonschizophrenic diagnoses (n = 22). Using the MCMI-I, PD scores were compared across the three groups. The strongest results in line with DSM-IIT/R statements were that the affective group was much more likely than the remaining two groups to obtain borderline PD diagnoses, and females were significantly more likely to obtain a borderline diagnosis. Contrary to DSM-ID/R statements, the schizophrenic group did not obtain greater proportions of schizoid, schizotypal, or paranoid PDs. compared to the other two Axis I groups. Issues pertaining to the validity of the MCMI-I are raised, and the possible impact on results are discussed.