EXAMINING COMORBIDITY AND POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER IN A VIETNAM VETERAN POPULATION USING THE MMPI-2

Examined the discriminant validity of the MMPI-2 in assessing comorbid ity in a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Vietnam veteran populati on. The Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-III-R (SCID) was use d to diagnose veterans and to classify them into four groups: PTSD Onl y, PTSD with mood disorders, PTSD with other anxiety disorders, and PT SD with mood and anxiety disorders. All groups had clinical elevations on scales F, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 0, PK, and PS, with peak elevations on scales 8, 7, and 2. The PTSD Only group's MMPI-2 scores were not s ignificantly lower than other groups' scores. The PTSD+Mood/Anxiety gr oup was significantly more elevated on scales 2 and 7 than the PTSD On ly and PTSD+Anxiety group but did not otherwise show significantly hig her scale elevations than other groups. No significant differences exi sted between groups on scales F, L, K, PK, and PS. Implications of the se results for PTSD and the current diagnostic system are explored.