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The relationship of the NEO-PI to personality disorders was evaluated in a clinical population. Eighty subjects with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were given this measure, along with the MCMI-II and PTSD and combat scales. Two questions were addressed: (1) What is the relationship of NEO-PI domains and facets to personality disorders?; and (2) What is this scale's relationship to PTSD problems? Results support previous studies that employed a clinical population, but with lower correlation coefficients. For the most part, then, the NEO-PI domains and facets correlated in expected ways with the MCMI-II. On PTSD measures, N accounted for the majority of the variance, but other domains were entered when independent regression equations were calculated to account for different personality disorders.

The question whether depression is related to trauma as part of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) itself or whether it represents autonomous symptoms occurring separately (from PTSD) has not been answered. We addressed two issues: (a) What is the relationship between PTSD and depression as measured by continuous measures on outcomes? and (b) By removing depression components from the PTSD diagnosis, what is the impact on standard outcomes? Older veterans from World War II or Korea were interviewed and given self-report measures on PTSD and depression. The CAPS-1 and the MMPI-D were used as the continuous measures for PTSD and depression. The outcome measures were health status, overall adjustment, social support, and physiological status. Results showed that depression influenced health status and social support; PTSD did not contribute to the equation. The CAPS-1 also was further divided into CAPS-PTSD and CAPS-D (depression) based on item content. For adjustment and health status, PTSD asserted a greater influence; for social support and heart rate, depression was the greater influence. Discussion addressed the fact that depression is an important consideration in the expression of PTSD.

A study of the relationship between Neuroticism, Extraversion and Openness to Experience Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) domains and facets and personality styles in a clinical sample of 80 post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) victims showed that the results of NEO-PI domains and facets correlated to the results of other personality disorder scales such as MCMI-II. The N and E factors showed the least amount of variance as both reflected personality disorders. The relationship between NEO-PI and PTSD measures was low, with the N factor accounting for highest variance.

Administration of MMPI and MMPI-2 scales to 47 Vietnam veterans reporting combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) reveals congruence of the clinical, validity and Harris-Lingoes scales of the two tests. However, MMPI-2 showed a higher score on PTSD scale than MMPI, variation in some Harris-Lingoes subscales and a weakening of MMPI-2 on some other scales. Clinicians should consider these variations before prescribing treatment.

A study of MMPI profiles in a sample of 135 Vietnam veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to combat, as a function of psychiatric comorbidity, revealed that three groups of patients, Depression, Psychosis and Other, showed variations in scale elevations depending on comorbidity. The Psychosis group revealed greater psychopathology than the other two groups in many scales, and showed higher elevation in MMPI profiles. The Depression and Other groups showed only slight variations in elevations. MMPI profiles were compared using measures such as validity and clinical scales, the MMPI-PTSD subscale and Harris Lingoes subscales.

Cluster analysis of combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients using Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and MCMI-II revealed clusters of PTSD patients with varying personality traits ranging from low to high levels of psychopathology. Use of MCMI on 256 patients categorized Traumatic Personality, Schizoid Influence and Antisocial Influence clusters. When MCMI-II was administered to 136 patients, four clusters, Global, Aggressive, Subclinical and Detached/Self-defeating resulted. Antisocial Influence cluster was the healthiest in the first analysis while Subclinical and Aggressive clusters were the healthiest in the second.

A survey of 104 chiefs of psychology in 153 Veterans Administration medical centers revealed their bias against counseling psychologists. However, the chiefs have accepted the importance of counseling in mainstream psychology and employ counseling psychologists when necessary. The roles of clinical and counseling psychologists often overlap, obscuring the differences between the two.

Interest in dissociation has been renewed, and its relationship to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is especially intriguing. In this study 57 consecutively admitted chronic, combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder sufferers were grouped by scores on a dissociative scale (Dissociative Experiences Scale). The three groups (high, medium, and low) were compared on personality measures (MMPI basic scales and subscales, and Millon's MCMI), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder measures, and a psychophysiological index of heart rate under baseline trauma conditions. The results showed that the survivors with more dissociative experiences show distinctive and higher symptom levels - excessive fearfulness, symptoms of strange experiences, and high tonic psychophysiological states - as well as greater severity of ratings of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (on the Mississippi Scale). The discussion addressed the possible role of dissociation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

The NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI) and the Combat Exposure Scale were applied to 100 Vietnam veterans with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder, who were then classified into three groups according the degrees of trauma exposure. The personality profiles of the three trauma-exposed groups suggest no major differences. A very high Neuroticism score and a very low Agreeableness score are evident in the persons examined.

This study addressed two issues, the interrelationship between the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) and the Millon II (MCMI-II) and the value of the new personality scales, Aggressive and Self-defeating, in a sample with diagnoses of combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. 100 confirmed cases of combat-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder were given a battery of measures including both Millon inventories and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (basic scales and selected subscales). They were rated on discharge status during a structured treatment program. Basic treatment and background information were also obtained. Analysis showed scores on the MCMI-II scales were higher but generally reflective of MCMI scales and that the Self-defeating personality style tends to be reflective of greater psychopathology, suicidal problems, treatment/disposition difficulties, overreporting of symptoms, and intensity of problems. Discussion encouraged the use of the MCMI-II with special emphasis given to the Self-defeating style in this group with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

At the present time, The Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD (Mississippi Scale) is the best paper-and-pencil measure of this disorder. This study carried out a test-retest reliability on 52 chronic Vietnam veterans with PTSD and established three psychometric criteria for item retention in order to establish a short form of the Mississippi Scale. Ten items met these criteria and had a test-retest reliability coefficient of .66 (under the most stringent of conditions, treatment). This 10-item measure (Miss-10) then was applied to 95 new PTSD cases. This scale yielded two factors, guilt and numbing/anger. Discussion addressed its use as part of a screening battery or for monitoring change across time.

Suicidal behavior among Vietnam veterans with chronic Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was evaluated. Sixty chronic PTSD vets admitted to a Specialized PTSD Unit were divided into two groups based on the presence of suicidal behavior: 29 patients in a Suicide-Group and 31 in a Non-suicide Group. Subjects were evaluated on symptoms, psychometric measures, military variables, adjustment factors, and pre-military parental patterns of discipline. Results showed that the Suicide Group possessed problems in paternal child-rearing patterns, current adjustment difficulties, and the PTSD symptoms of survival guilt and crying. In a regression analysis, paternal inconsistency of love, survivor guilt, and tendency to cry, in addition to age and sex, accounted for the significant variance of suicidal behavior.

The F-K index of the MMPI has been used as a marker of symptom over-reporting. One population for which previous research has shown this pattern is Vietnam in-country veterans with PTSD. This study assessed the F-K index on 515 inpatients: 329 Vietnam in-country and 186 Vietnam-era patients. Normative data on psychiatric inpatients were presented. Also, a special MMPI subscale (MMPI-PTSD), a measure to identify PTSD among these veterans, was used. Results showed that all Vietnam veterans, especially in-country veterans, overreport symptoms to a high degree. The overall mean for in-country vets was 7.3. Also, when the special MMPI-PTSD subscale was used, a vast majority of in-country veterans who were in the PTSD range had high F-K index scores. Dissimulation as a symptom of PTSD was discussed.