PERSONALITY PROFILE AMONG SYMPTOMATIC AND RECOVERED PATIENTS WITH NECK SPRAIN INJURY, MEASURED BY MCMI-1 ACUTELY AND 6 MONTHS AFTER CAR ACCIDENTS

The relationships between personality and psychiatric symptoms and lon g-lasting physical symptoms were assessed in 88 neck sprain patients i njured in car accidents. The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCM I-1) was completed at time of occurrence (intake) and 6 months after t he injury. The neck sprain patients were divided into three subgroups according to symptoms 6 months after the accident. In addition, the to tal neck sprain group was compared with three other subject groups. Th e results indicated that the three neck sprain subgroups did not diffe r on the MCMI-I neither at intake nor 6 months later. The total neck s prain patients group was significantly different from patients with ma jor depression on all scales of the MCMI-I, but not significantly diff erent compared to patients with localized musculoskeletal pain Compare d to a group of health personnel, there were only a few significant di fferences. The study does not support the view that premorbid personal ity traits can predict outcome for neck sprain patients. (C) 1997 Else vier Science Inc.