THE CLINICAL UTILITY OF THE MMPI-2 IN DIAGNOSING UNIPOLAR DEPRESSION AMONG MALE ALCOHOLICS

The correspondence between Scale 2 elevations on the MMPI-2 and SCID-d iagnosed unipolar depression (major depression and dysthymia) and alco hol-induced depression was evaluated among 106 consecutive male admiss ions to an inpatient alcohol treatment unit. Valid profiles were obtai ned from 87 subjects, 15% of whom were diagnosed with unipolar depress ion and another 4.5% with presumed alcohol-induced depression. The sen sitivity of Scale 2 (the probability that a depressed subject would ob tain an elevated score) ranged from .19 to .42. Positive predictive po wer (the probability that a subject who obtained an elevated score had a depressive disorder) ranged from .23 to .38. Neither Scale 2 alone nor Scale 2 paired in 2-point code types predicted the presence or abs ence of comorbid depressive disorders among male alcoholics.