Trait versus state aspects of the MMPI during the early course of schizophrenia

Scores on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-168 item v ersion were examined during periods of clinical remission and of psychosis for recent-onset schizophrenia patients (n=19) and at comparable time inter vals for demographically matched normal participants (n = 19). To determine diagnostic specificity, MMPIs for participants with bipolar affective diso rder in remission (n = 12) were also examined. Methods for distinguishing b etween stable vulnerability indicators, mediating vulnerability factors and episode indicators of psychopathology were adapted from Nuechterlein and D awson (1984). MMPI scales Pa, Sc and validity scale F showed a combination of trait and state qualities, characteristic of mediating vulnerability fac tors. These scales reflect changes that occur during psychotic episodes but also apparently tap personality characteristics that endure into periods o f clinical remission. Unexpectedly, some MMPI scales that are not typically associated with psychotic disorders (i.e. Hs, D, and Hy) were significantl y higher in schizophrenia patients across psychotic and clinically remitted states than in normal participants. In clinical remission, higher scores o n scales Hs, D and Hy, showed some specificity to schizophrenia relative to bipolar disorder. While MMPI-168 scales Pd and Pt fit the pattern for vuln erability indicators, it was uncertain whether they belonged to the 'stable ' versus 'mediating' subtype. MMPI scores that continue to be higher in rem ission than in a normal sample may reflect either enduring vulnerability fa ctors or the impact of schizophrenia and the individuals' attempts to cope with the disorder. Studies of first-degree relatives will be needed to prov ide converging evidence that certain personality characteristics reflect ge netic predisposition to schizophrenia. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.