An exploration of MMPI-2 extratest correlates for female criminal defendants
The present study examined the extratest correlates associated with four MMPI-2 profiles code types for female defendants in the pre-trial setting. The original sample was comprised of 1399 cases; 562 were eliminated due to invalidity with scores exceeding recommended validity scale guidelines for forensic populations. Profiles not restricted and well-defined were also excluded from the study. The most commonly occurring high-point code types were found on scales 4, 6, 4/6, and 6/8, which yielded a final sample of 201 cases with restricted, well-defined code types. The typical defendant was found to be 35 years old, Caucasian, single, with a poor employment history, and at least a high school education. The majority of these women had a history of adult convictions (67.2\%), outpatient mental health treatment (66.7\%), adult psychiatric admissions (55.2\%), and mood disorder diagnosis (50.7\%). Approximately half had a history of suicide attempts (48.8\%) and were on medication at the time of the evaluation (44.8\%). They were less likely to have been diagnosed with substance abuse (33.8\%), personality disorder (31.3\%), or schizophrenia (22.9\%); been sexually (26.9\%) or physically abused (23.9\%); received outpatient substance abuse treatment (22.9\%); used alcohol or drugs at the time of the crime (19.4\%); or experienced child psychiatric admissions (14.9\%). Type of crime committed was spread amongst crime against a person (41.8\%), crime categorized as other (32.8\%), or crime against property (36.8\%). Direct discriminant function analyses did not reveal extratest correlates to maximally separate between Groups 4, 6, 4/6, and 6/8. The addition of MMPI-2 content scale scores did not significantly improve separation between groups. The addition of MMPI-2 clinical scale scores achieved maximal separation between all four groups. For Groups 4, 6, and 6/8, sequential logistical regression analyses revealed significant incremental validity of MMPI-2 content scale scores in prediction of group membership over extratest correlates alone. The findings of this study suggest a need for continued research with this population. To develop understanding of this understudied population, additional normative and extratest data are greatly needed. Currently, due to the dearth of information available, interpretation of their MMPI-2 data is problematic. Suggestions for future research were discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved)
https://www.upress.umn.edu/test-division/bibliography/2000-2009/2005/gray_exploration_2005
https://www.upress.umn.edu/logo.png
Heather Gray
(2005)
An exploration of MMPI-2 extratest correlates for female criminal defendants
PhD thesis.