MMPI assessment of patients with functional bowel disorders

Abstract

This prospective study was undertaken to assess personality differences among patients with chronic pelvic floor disorders. Sixty patients (43 females and 17 males) of a mean age of 58 (range, 33–87) years with fecal incontinence (n=19), constipation (n=30), or levator spasm (n=11) had a mean duration of symptoms of 35 (range, 2–50) years. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was utilized for psychologic assessment for all patients prior to treatment. Mean scores for scales 1 (hypochondriasis), 2 (depression), and 3 (hysteria) were significantly elevated for the levator spasm group (71, 75, and 73, respectively). A similar pattern was seen for the constipation group, where the mean scores for scales 1 and 2 were significantly elevated (70 and 74, respectively) with a moderate elevation on scale 3 (68). The hypochondriasis (1), depression (2), and hysteria (3) scales are referred to as the “neurotic triad”, and profile patterns such as these indicate that these subjects may manifest their psychologic distress as physical symptoms. By contrast, the fecal incontinence patients were within the normal range on all scales. The information from these MMPI profiles can be used to understand the personality and emotional composition of these patients to assist in their evaluation and treatment.