A prototypical MMPI-2 configuration of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Authors

  • Giuseppe Femia Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), Rome
  • Andrea Gragnani Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), Rome
  • Teresa Cosentino Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), Rome
  • Mauro Giacomantonio Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), Rome - Social and Developmental Psychology Department, Sapienza University of Rome
  • Federico Diano Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), Rome
  • Antonella Bernaudo Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), Rome
  • Valerio Pellegrini Association of Cognitive Psychology (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy (SPC), Rome - Social and Developmental Psychology Department, Sapienza University of Rome
  • Francesco Mancini Association of Cognitive Psychology – Associazione di Psicologia Cognitiva (APC) and School of Cognitive Psychotherapy – Scuola di Psicoterapia Cognitiva (SPC), Rome Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/mjcp-2554

Keywords:

Differential diagnosis, HPC configuration, MMPI-2, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, Psychological assessment.

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is often measured through self-report questionnaires focused on measuring symptomatology (Y-BOCS, OCI-R, and PI). The scientific literature identifies the Pt scale as a distinctive marker, but does not report data related to a specific OCD profile of the MMPI-2 test. Therefore, based on some clinical considerations and preliminary investigations, the following study aims to identify a specific MMPI-OCD configuration marked by the presence of significant indicators able to describe its psychological functioning and its key features in cognitive, emotional and affective terms.

Method: In order to explore the expected relationships, 395 participants were involved (average age: 34.20 years) and evaluated through the MMPI-2 test and the Yale-Brown interview.

Results: MANOVA, Multiple Linear Regression Analysis and Discriminant Function Analysis confirm that the OCD is marked by the recurrence of three elevated clinical scales (Pt, D, Sc). Hyper-prudential reasoning and some reasoning bias, typically employed by these subjects, could justify such results.

Conclusions: This specific configuration could therefore support the clinician during the assessment phases and lead him to identify – as well as differentiate – his characteristics from those of other psychological disorders, thus stimulating him to deepen during the interpretation of the results.

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Published

19-12-2020

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 3 (2020)

Section

Clinical Psychology

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