Persistent MAPI scale 6 elevations after inpatient treatment

Abstract

Of 81 adolescent inpatients with elevated (> 74) admission scores on scale 6 (forceful/antisocial) of the Millon Adolescent Personality Inventory (MAPI; Millon, Green, & Meagher, 1982), 44 (54.32%) continued to have elevated scale 6 scores on the discharge administration of the test. These 44 subjects (labeled High 6) did not differ significantly from the other 37 subjects (labeled Low 6) on several variables that have been associated with conduct disturbance. The two groups did differ significantly, however, on family size, parental (especially paternal) psychopathology, and prognosis. The High 6 group tended to come from larger families, had a higher frequency of parental pathology, and more often received negative prognoses than did the Low 6 group. A discriminant function analysis conducted on the MAPI expressed concerns scales on the admission administration of the test resulted in a 76.54% correct classification of subjects into the High 6 and Low 6 groups. In general, the High 6 subjects appeared less troubled and more trouble than those subjects in the Low 6 group. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of the MAPI as a component in the assessment of the treatment amenability of adolescents with disruptive behavior disorders.