Date of Award
4-1999
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Lester W. Wright, Jr.
Second Advisor
Dr. Malcolm Robertson
Third Advisor
Dr. Richard Tsegaye-Spates
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Subhash Sonnad
Abstract
The current research project examined the psychometric properties of the substance abuse scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2) with an inmate population. The scales of interest included the MacAndrews Alcoholism Scale Revised (MAC-R), the Addiction Potential Scale (APS) and the Addiction Acknowledgement Scale (AAS).
A total of 80 subjects were administered the MMPI-2 which resulted in 73 valid profiles. Of the valid profiles, 54 were chemically dependent and 19 were nonchemically dependent inmates. There were no differences between groups in regard to sociodemographic variables.
The data analyses indicated that the AAS and APS are efficient and accurate at discriminating between inmates who do and do not have chemical dependency diagnoses. Furthermore, it was determined that cutoff scores for all three substance abuse scales, AAS, APS and MAC-R, had to be lowered from those of the original standardization sample in order to increase the overall accuracy of the each scale. In addition, it was found that there is no significant difference between ethnic groups.
However, the APS required an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to eliminate variability from age and education. Finally, there was no predictive relationship between the subject's test score and severity of drug use.
In conclusion, the AAS and APS showed more promise for identification of chemically dependent inmates than the MAC-R. However, lowered cutoff scores for each scale are necessary to increase the classification accuracy.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Johnston, Barbara A., "Determining Cutoff Scores for the MMPI-2 Substance Abuse Scales For an Inmate Population" (1999). Dissertations. 1514.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1514