Evaluating PTSD in incarcerated male juveniles with the MMPI-A: an exploratory analysis

Abstract

This is a preliminary study examining the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent form (MMPI-A; Butcher, Williams, Graham, Archer, Tellegan, Ben-Porath, & Kaemmer, 1992) for identifying PTSD in incarcerated adolescents. Scores from the MMPI-A were compared with scores and diagnostic criteria from the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index (PTSD-RI; Frederick, 1985) for a sample of 60 male juvenile delinquents. Results from a MANOVA indicated significant differences in mean scores for MMPI-A Scales 4, 6, and 8 for both PTSD and Non-PTSD groups. The MMPI Supplementary PK scale (Keane, Malloy & Fairbank, 1984), developed for identifying PTSD, was adapted and evaluated for applications with the MMPI-A. Finally, a discriminant function analysis successfully classified juveniles with and without PTSD symptomatology. In summary, the PK scale was moderately successful at identifying post-traumatic stress reactions. Our results suggest that the MMPI-A may serve as a useful screening measure, indicating the need for further evaluation of traumatic experiences in juveniles.