MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical Scales (RC) Scales

1. MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical Scales(RC) Scales William P. Wattles Francis Marion University

2. Invalid protocols • Cannot say >30 • VRIN or TRIN ≥80 • F or F(p) ≥100 • Fb ≥ 110 • L ≥ 80 • K ≥ 75

3. MMPI-2 • Good for measuring: • Personality characteristics • Behavioral tendencies • Emotional functioning • Psychopathology symptoms

4. Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales highly intercorrelated • Hinders construct validity • Empirical keying • convergent • Discriminant • Current Techniques • Code types • Harris Lingoes scales • Supplementary scales

5. Construct Validity • The extent to which a measurement method accurately represents a construct and produces an observation distinct from that produced by a measure of another construct.

6. Convergent and discriminant validity • Convergent and discriminant validity are both considered subcategories or subtypes of construct validity.

7. Convergent and discriminant validity • In general we want convergent correlations to be as high as possible and discriminant ones to be as low as possible.

8. Discriminant validity • To establish discriminant validity,  you need to show that measures that should not be related are in reality not related. 

9. ConvergentValidity • To establish convergent validity, you need to show that measures that should be related are in reality related. • Thus, those with elevated scale 4 have been shown to have more arrests.

11. Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales significant item overlap • The average number of overlapping items per pair of the ten clinical sales is 6.4 items. • Examples • 7-8 (17) • 2-7 (13) • 2-3 (13) • 6-8 (13) • 4-0 (11)

12. Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales highly intercorrelated • A factor called anxiety, general maladjustment or emotion distress explains much of the variance among scales.

13. Floating profiles. • Intercorrelations result in most or all scales being elevated making it difficult to determine which scale to focus on.

14. Demoralization Scale (RCd) • This factor is removed from the other scales • Items selected for relevancy to core of each scale • Items selected for • Convergence, high correlation with scale • Discrimination, low correlations with other scales.

15. Restructured Scales

16. Intercorrelations • Page 157 • Intercorrelations are reduced. • For example • Scale 1 and Scale 2 =.56 • Scale RC1 and RC2 = .27 • Scale 7 and Scale 2 = .65 • RC7 and RC2 =.31

17. MMPI-2 RESTRUCTURED CLINICAL SCALES PROFILE

18. Clinical Scale 2 • After demoralization is removed a low positive emotionality component emerged. • Consistent with theories seeing this as the core of depression.

19. Clinical Scale 3 • When RCd removed 3 components left: • Somatization • Extraversion • Naivete • Naivete negatively correlated with psychopathology

20. RC scales evaluation • They show convergent validity equal to or superior to the clinical scales and the content scales. • They often offer a substantial improvement over clinical scales discriminant validity. (not being significantly correlated to unrelated characteristics.) • The RC scales provide a more clearly focused assessment of the primary distinctive components of the Clinical Scales.

21. Interpretation of RC scales • RC scale tells about elevations in the core construct. • Clinical scale may include other characteristics as well

22. RCd Demorilization • High scores (T≥65) • Discouraged • Poor self-esteem • Pessimistic • Expect to fail • Overwhelmed • incapable

23. RC1 Somatic complaints • High scores (T≥65) • Large number of physical complaints • Chronic pain • Preoccupied with bodily functions • Resistant to psychological explanations • Develop physical symptoms in response to psychological difficulties

24. RC2 Low Positive Emotions • High scores (T≥65) • Lack of positive emotional engagement in life • Lack energy • Difficulty taking charge or making decisions • Inroverted, passive, withdrawn • Bored isolated • Low expectations of success

25. High scores (T≥65) See others as: untrustworthy Uncaring exploitive Low scores (≤40) Naïve Gullible Overly trusting RC3 Cynicism

26. RC4 Antisocial Behavior • High scores (T≥65) • Difficult to conform to societal norms • Difficulties with the law • Increased risk for substance abuse • Aggressive • Conflictual relationships • Seen as critical, argumentative, angry, antagonistic. • Problems in school and work

27. RC6 Ideas of persecution • High scores (T≥65) • Feel targeted, controlled and victimized by others. • Suspicious, difficulty trusting

28. RC7 Dysfunctional Negative Emotions • High scores (T≥65) • Anxiety and irritability • Often have intrusive, unwanted thoughts • Insecure • Sensitive to perceived criticism • Ruminate and brood about failures • Passive and submissive in relationships

29. RC8 Aberrant experiences • High scores (T≥65) • Sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and motor disturbances suggestive of psychosis. • Hallucinations • Delusions • Scores above 75 suggest schizophrenia, delusional disorder.

30. RC9 Hypomanic activation • High scores (T≥65) • Thought racing • High energy levels • Heightened mood & irritability • Aggressive, poor impulse control • Sensation seekers, risk takers • Above 75 suggest bipolar, manic episode • 60-70 extraverted with energy

31. Validity • The restructured clinical scales provide the most parsimonious assessment of psychopathic personality traits.

32. Incremental Validity • Some overlap of present content and supplementary scales. • RC1 Correlates .95 with health concerns • RC3 correlates .93 with cynicism content scale • RCd correlates .95 with Welsh’s Anxiety Scale

33. Summary • The RC scales represent a modest psychometric improvement over the standard clinical scales • Partial success at removing nonspecific distress variance makes profiles easier to interpret • New scales need no data for interpretation