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Further Validation of the MMPI-2-RF Personality Disorder Spectra Scales

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Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to extend research on the Personality Disorder (PD) Spectra scales developed for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). We evaluated the scales against measures of both the DSM-5 Section II (traditional model) and Section III (Alternative Model of Personality Disorders; AMPD) PD diagnostic criteria. The participants were 474 undergraduate students from the University of Otago who were administered a range of measures for both DSM-5 PD models. The MMPI-2-RF PD Spectra scales showed significant moderate to large correlations with traditional PD measures, with the exception of Histrionic PD, as well as evidenced incremental validity over the MMPI-2-RF Personality Psychopathology-5 (PSY-5) – the only current formal measurement of personality pathology on the MMPI-2-RF- in accounting for scores on traditional PD measures. The MMPI-2-RF PD Spectra scales also showed moderate to high correlations with most hypothesized AMPD personality trait and impairment scales used to assess DSM-5 AMPD diagnostic criteria. The findings indicated that the scales align well with both paradigms for PD assessment, situating the MMPI-2-RF in a unique position as a bridging measure.

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Notes

  1. The pattern of correlations for the individual PDQ4+ and ADP-IV PD scales with MMPI-2-RF PD scales were highly similar. Indeed, intra-class correlations (two-way random, absolute agreement) for each measure’s set of correlations with MMPI-2-RF PD Spectra scales ranged from .93–.99 with the exception of the Histrionic PD scales, which was .61.

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Funding

A grant awarded to Dr Sellbom from the University of Minnesota Press, publisher of the MMPI-2-RF, funded this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Tiffany A. Brown & Martin Sellbom

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  1. Tiffany A. Brown
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Correspondence to Martin Sellbom.

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Ms Brown declares that she has no conflict of interest. Dr Sellbom is a paid consultant to the University of Minnesota Press, publisher of the MMPI-2-RF. Dr Sellbom also teaches professional workshops and webinars for remuneration.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (University of Otago, Human Ethics Committee) and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Brown, T.A., Sellbom, M. Further Validation of the MMPI-2-RF Personality Disorder Spectra Scales. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 42, 259–270 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-020-09789-5

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