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. 2014:2014:964210.
doi: 10.1155/2014/964210. Epub 2014 Dec 9.

MMPI-2: cluster analysis of personality profiles in perinatal depression—preliminary evidence

Valentina Meuti  1 , Isabella Marini  1 , Alessandra Grillo  1 , Marco Lauriola  2 , Carlo Leone  1 , Nicoletta Giacchetti  1 , Franca Aceti  1
Affiliations

MMPI-2: cluster analysis of personality profiles in perinatal depression—preliminary evidence

Valentina Meuti et al. ScientificWorldJournal. 2014.

Abstract

Background: To assess personality characteristics of women who develop perinatal depression.

Methods: The study started with a screening of a sample of 453 women in their third trimester of pregnancy, to which was administered a survey data form, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2 (MMPI-2). A clinical group of subjects with perinatal depression (PND, 55 subjects) was selected; clinical and validity scales of MMPI-2 were used as predictors in hierarchical cluster analysis carried out.

Results: The analysis identified three clusters of personality profile: two "clinical" clusters (1 and 3) and an "apparently common" one (cluster 2). The first cluster (39.5%) collects structures of personality with prevalent obsessive or dependent functioning tending to develop a "psychasthenic" depression; the third cluster (13.95%) includes women with prevalent borderline functioning tending to develop "dysphoric" depression; the second cluster (46.5%) shows a normal profile with a "defensive" attitude, probably due to the presence of defense mechanisms or to the fear of stigma.

Conclusion: Characteristics of personality have a key role in clinical manifestations of perinatal depression; it is important to detect them to identify mothers at risk and to plan targeted therapeutic interventions.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
MMPI-2 cluster profiles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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