Using the MMPI with Adolescents who have Somatic Symptoms

Abstract

Since the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) has been shown to be useful in discriminating between adults who have organically-based somatic symptoms and other adults whose somatic symptoms are deemed to be functional, an investigation of its usefulness in this regard with adolescents (in the 13 through 16 age range) was undertaken. MMPI scores of 44 adolescents who came to a general hospital with somatic symptoms and who were found to have an organic disease were compared with the scores of 29 adolescents who came with similar symptoms for which no organic basis could be found and who were ultimately diagnosed as having a functional or psychogenic disorder. The groups were similar in terms of age, education, socioeconomic status, and race. Both boys and girls in the functional group had significantly higher mean scores on the first three scales of the MMPI ( Hs, D and Hy), and the girls had a higher mean score on Scale 7 ( Pt).