Clinical presentations of posttraumatic stress disorder across trauma populations: A comparison of MMPI-2 profiles of combat veterans and adult survivors of child sexual abuse

Jon D. Elhai, B. Christopher Frueh, Paul B. Gold, Steven N. Gold, Mark B. Hamner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

41 Scopus citations

Abstract

This investigation examined differences in symptom patterns of two different trauma samples using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). MMPI-2s of 122 male combat veterans seeking outpatient treatment for combat-related PTSD were compared with those of 64 PTSD-diagnosed adults seeking outpatient treatment for the effects of child sexual abuse (CSA). We examined variables related to degree of health concerns, depression, somatization, anger and hostility, masculine-feminine traits, paranoid ideation, anxiety, difficulties thinking and concentrating, elevated mood, and social introversion, as well as test-taking attitude. MANOVAs revealed between-group differences on several variables. However, when analyses controlled for the effect of age, nearly all differences disappeared; the only remaining difference was in a scale measuring anger. Thus, it appears CSA survivors and combat veterans are much more similar than different in their clinical presentation on the MMPI-2. Conceptual issues in the assessment of PTSD are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)708-713
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Nervous and Mental Disease
Volume188
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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