MMPI2 Restructured Clinical Scales RC Scales

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MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical Scales(RC) Scales

• William P. Wattles
• Francis Marion University

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Invalid protocols

• Cannot say gt30
• VRIN or TRIN 80
• F or F(p) 100
• Fb 110
• L 80
• K 75

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MMPI-2

• Good for measuring
• Personality characteristics
• Behavioral tendencies
• Emotional functioning
• Psychopathology symptoms

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Problem MMPI-2 Clinical Scales highly
intercorrelated

• Hinders construct validity
• Empirical keying
• convergent
• Discriminant
• Current Techniques
• Code types
• Harris Lingoes scales
• Supplementary scales

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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.

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Convergent and discriminant validity

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

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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.

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Discriminant validity

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

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Convergent Validity

• 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.

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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)

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Problem MMPI-2 Clinical Scales highly
intercorrelated

• A factor called anxiety, general maladjustment or
  emotion distress explains much of the variance
  among scales.

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Floating profiles.

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

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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.

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Restructured Scales
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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

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MMPI-2 RESTRUCTURED CLINICAL SCALES PROFILE
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Clinical Scale 2

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

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Clinical Scale 3

• When RCd removed 3 components left
• Somatization
• Extraversion
• Naivete
• Naivete negatively correlated with psychopathology

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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.

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Interpretation of RC scales

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

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RCd Demorilization

• High scores (T65)
• Discouraged
• Poor self-esteem
• Pessimistic
• Expect to fail
• Overwhelmed
• incapable

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RC1 Somatic complaints

• High scores (T65)
• Large number of physical complaints
• Chronic pain
• Preoccupied with bodily functions
• Resistant to psychological explanations
• Develop physical symptoms in response to
  psychological difficulties

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RC2 Low Positive Emotions

• High scores (T65)
• Lack of positive emotional engagement in life
• Lack energy
• Difficulty taking charge or making decisions
• Inroverted, passive, withdrawn
• Bored isolated
• Low expectations of success

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RC3 Cynicism

• High scores (T65)
• See others as
• untrustworthy
• Uncaring
• exploitive

• Low scores (40)
• Naïve
• Gullible
• Overly trusting

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RC4 Antisocial Behavior

• High scores (T65)
• 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

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RC6 Ideas of persecution

• High scores (T65)
• Feel targeted, controlled and victimized by
  others.
• Suspicious, difficulty trusting

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RC7 Dysfunctional Negative Emotions

• High scores (T65)
• Anxiety and irritability
• Often have intrusive, unwanted thoughts
• Insecure
• Sensitive to perceived criticism
• Ruminate and brood about failures
• Passive and submissive in relationships

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RC8 Aberrant experiences

• High scores (T65)
• Sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and motor
  disturbances suggestive of psychosis.
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Scores above 75 suggest schizophrenia, delusional
  disorder.

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RC9 Hypomanic activation

• High scores (T65)
• 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

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Validity

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

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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 Welshs Anxiety Scale

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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