AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP OF GENDER AND AGE TO MMPI SCORES OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PAIN

This study investigated the relationship of age and gender to the MMPI scores of patients with chronic pain; 1,766 patients with musculoskel etal lumbar and/or cervical pain were evaluated, using the MMPI. Multi variate analysis of variance (p < .001) revealed main effects for gend er and age group variables; no interaction effects were found. For the age group variable, significant differences were found on two validit y and seven clinical scales. Subjects in the 70- to 90-year age group produced the lowest scores on all scales except L, F, and MF. Linear d eclines across age groups, and quadratic effects were found on some sc ales. The authors hypothesize that developmental transitions may accou nt in part for these findings.