Crystal K. Kelley

MMPI behavioral correlates of spike-5 and two-point code types with scale 5 as one elevation.

Data from 550 student outpatient psychiatric files were extracted and summarized on record sheets. Base rates for the entire population were determined. MMPI profiles were grouped according to their highest two-point elevations or by single elevation when only one scale was elevated above T-score 70. All profiles with only a scale-5 elevation or for which scale 5 was one of the two highest clinical elevations were removed from the profile population, and the corresponding correlates for these groups of profiles were compared to those for the remainder of the population. Spike-5 profiles indicate basically normal adjustment, while 2-5/5-2, 4-5/5-4, 7-5/5-7, and 8-5/5-8 profiles all indicate varying degrees of psychopathology.

Behavioral correlates for spike-4, spike-9, and 4-9/9-4 MMPI profiles in students at a university mental health center.

Numerous investigators have noted that spike-4, spike-9, and 4-9/9-4 profiles occur with an unusually high frequency in college students. Five hundred and fifty files of college students who requested outpatient psychiatric services were reviewed, and the data from 47 files were extracted in which the student patient had a clinically elevated spike-4, spike-9, or 4-9/9-4 profile. Numerous significant psychopathological behavioral correlates were found for each profile type, which supports the contention that these profile types are reflective of significant psychopathology and are not examples of benign deviations of a particular sample from the original normative group.

Parental interrater reliability as a function of situational specificity and familiarity of target child

Child behavior ratings were made by 17 mothers and fathers of the same child. Agreement was computed for each parent pair under the following experimental conditions: (1) Ratings of their own childs behavior in general (CBC); (2) ratings of own child based on observations of him/her in a videotaped sample; (3) ratings of an unknown child based on observations of him/her in a videotaped sample; and (4) ratings of the videotaped sample of own child and unknown child using a one minute time-sampling procedure. Parents achieved higher rates of agreement (X=.81) than have previously been reported. Increasing the specificity of the behavior being rated did not significantly affect agreement. Those parent pairs who agreed the most did not necessarily spend a large amount of time in the same kind of situations with their child. Agreement was significantly greater when parents rated their own childrens videotaped behavior sample as opposed to that of an unknown child.

Behavioral correlates of infrequent two-point MMPI code types at a university mental health center.

Presented interpretive correlates for 95 college students who were seeking mental health services and who generated the following infrequently occurring MMPI code types: Spike 2, 2-0/0-2, 2-4/4-2, 2-6/6-2, 3-4/4-3, 3-9/9-3, 4-7/7-4, 6-7/7-6, 7-9/9-7, and Spike O. Descriptors were derived from intake interview and mental status information collected without knowledge of the MMPI profile. Those items that discriminated between each profile type and the remainder of the student mental health population (Chi Square, alpha = .05, .01) are presented as tentative interpretive descriptors that may be helpful in generating hypotheses for use with college student psychiatric outpatients.

Behavioral correlates for within‐normal‐limit MMPI profiles with and without elevated K in students at a university mental health center

Young adults who were attending a college student mental health center and who obtained MMPI profiles with clinical scales within normal limits with and without elevated K were compared to all other patients at the center on 175 descriptors obtained from intake interviews. Those items that discriminated (x2, p less than .05) students who obtained these profile types from others are reported as tentative MMPI interpretive correlates for patients in similar settings. Correlates ranged from those indicative of situational difficulties to serious psychopathology, and clear sex differences were present. It is concluded that within-normal-limit profiles do not indicate psychological normality when they occur in such a setting and that useful interpretive information can be identified for these, as well as clinically elevated profile types.

Reliability of the Behavior Problem Checklist with institutionalized male delinquents

Interrater and 2-week test retest reliability coefficients were determined for subscales of the Behavior Problem Checklist on 50 males incarcerated in a state receiving facility for delinquent adolescents. Raters were 22 dormitory counselors, 2 of whom rated each child after 1 week and again after 3 weeks of observing the boys. Interrater reliability ranged from .06 to .68 on the various BPC subscales and was .50 overall, reflecting wide variation in the agreement of raters in rating boys on different dimensions. Test-retest reliability coefficients for the same rater at 2-week intervals were higher (.71 overall) and also varied among subscales. Raters were able to agree best on aggressive, acting-out behaviors. Other personality dimensions tapped by the BPC were rated with less reliability in this particular setting.

Normative data on the Missouri Children's Picture Series and the Missouri Children's Behavior Checklist with southern black children

Normative data are presented for Southern black children on two objective personality inventories for children: the Missouri Childrens Picture Series (MCPS), a child picture-sorting task, and the Missouri Childrens Behavior Checklist (MBCL), a parent rating scale. The MCPS was administered to 615 black children attending public schools in a low socioeconomic area of the southeast United States. Parents returned the MBCL on 437 of the children. Means and standard deviations on eight MCPS personality scales and six MCBL behavior rating scales are presented for black males and females at ages 5 through 16, and effects of age, sex, and various scale intercorrelations are discussed. Results suggest systematic age and sex differences on the various scales for black children that are quite atypical when compared with the MCPS in other samples. Various empirical questions regarding the validity of these instruments when used with Southern black children are raised.