A COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY-INVENTORYPROFILES OF ANOREXIA-NERVOSA AT HOSPITAL ADMISSION, DISCHARGE, AND 10-YEAR FOLLOW-UP

The assessment of personality variables measured by the Minnesota Mult iphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), was compared in a sample of 52 f emale inpatients with anorexia nervosa at the time of hospitalization, discharge from hospital, and 10 years after treatment. Admission MMPI scores were significantly higher than scores both at discharge and 10 years later. There were no significant overall differences between di scharge and follow-up evaluation. Discharge, but not admission, MMPI s cores were positively correlated with 10-year follow-up study on seven of 10 clinical MMPI scales (all but hypochondriasis, masculinity/femi ninity, and hypomania). At follow-up evaluation, eating disorder poor outcome was associated with higher MMPI scores. There was no significa nt difference on admission MMPI scores between the four outcome groups ; however, patients who recovered had a greater decrease in MMPI score s at the 10-year follow-up study compared with poor outcome patients. The long-term outcome of anorexia nervosa was largely unrelated to the severity of psychopathology during the acute phase of the illness. Th ese results suggest that persistent personality features are best meas ured following treatment of acute symptomatology of anorexia nervosa. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.