MMPI profiles among neuropsychology patients

Examined MMPI profiles in a sample of 345 patients who were referred for neuropsychological evaluation because of known or suspected brain damage in an effort to determine how these profiles compare to MMPI profiles among general mental health outpatients. The relationship between the severity of brain damage as determined by the neuropsychological evaluation and the severity of emotional problems as reflected by the MMPI also was examined. A third part of the study focused on two MMPI "organic" codes ("29" and "139") to determine whether these code types reflect brain disorders at greater than chance level. Results indicate that a large majority of neuropsychology patients exhibit significant emotional problems as evidenced by one or more scale elevations on the MMPI. These patients differ considerably from general outpatients in terms of the scales most frequently elevated. In contrast to earlier findings, present results suggest only a low relationship between the severity of emotional problems and the severity of brain damage with much of this relationship reflected in Sc scale elevations.