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Associations between MMPI-2-RF Scale Scores and Self-Reported Personality Disorder Criteria in a Private Practice Sample

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Abstract

The current study examined the associations between MMPI-2-RF scales and self-reported DSM-5 Section II personality disorder (PD) criteria in a large (n = 640) outpatient independent practice sample. We utilised correlation and regression analyses to evaluate the predictive utility of MMPI-2-RF scale scores in predicting latent PD scores. Results generally conformed to theoretical expectations and supported the MMPI-2-RF as a successful assessment tool of Section II PDs. Specifically, the majority of hypotheses between individual MMPI-2-RF scales and PD symptom scores were supported at the zero-order level, and regression analysis revealed unique predictors for each PD that were largely consistent with theoretical expectations. Further, these results provide additional evidence that DSM-5 Section II PDs can be represented in a dimensional framework using the MMPI-2-RF, which is pertinent when applying the current results within a broader context of evolving theoretical understanding of the composition and assessment of PDs, particularly with regard to the DSM-5 Section III personality model.

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Notes

  1. Because we examined individual PDs, we elected not to use too much space presenting detailed inter-correlations among PDs in the current study. However, interested readers can be provided with details upon request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Natasha Zahn

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand

    Martin Sellbom

  3. Research School of Psychology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

    Carly Pymont

  4. Independent Practice, Tucker, GA, USA

    Paul W. Schenk

Authors
  1. Natasha Zahn
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  2. Martin Sellbom
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  3. Carly Pymont
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  4. Paul W. Schenk
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Correspondence to Martin Sellbom.

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Funding

Martin Sellbom receives continuous research funding from the University of Minnesota Press, publisher of the MMPI-2-RF, including for the present research.

This research was funded by grants from the University of Minnesota Press, publisher of the MMPI-2-RF, and the Georgia Psychological Foundation. We further thank all the psychologists and clients who provided data and participated in this study.

Conflict of Interest

Martin Sellbom is a paid consultant to the University of Minnesota Press. He also teaches professional workshops and webinars on the MMPI-2-RF for remuneration.

Ethical Approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study for the original data collection.

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Zahn, N., Sellbom, M., Pymont, C. et al. Associations between MMPI-2-RF Scale Scores and Self-Reported Personality Disorder Criteria in a Private Practice Sample. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 39, 723–741 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-017-9616-8

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