MMPI variables predictive of schizophrenia in the Copenhagen High-Risk Project: a 25-year follow-up

Moldin et al. (1) have identified a cluster of Minnesota Multiphasic Person ality Inventory (MMPI) scales that discriminate adolescents at risk for sch izophrenia from those not at. risk. The present study examines how well Mol din's scales predict schizophrenic decompensation in a sample of 207 Danish adolescents at high genetic risk for schizophrenia. Subjects were assessed using a modified, 304-item MMPI in 1962 (mean age = 15.1 years) and diagno sed in 10-year and 25-year follow-ups. Premorbidly, schizophrenic subjects (n=31) scored higher than subjects with no mental illness on the frequency (F) and psychoticism (PSY) scales. When paranoid and nonparanoid preschizop hrenics were separated, three scales (F, Pz (paranoid schizophrenia) and PS Y) significantly discriminated paranoid preschizophrenics. Discriminant fun ction analyses confirmed these results. It is concluded that the MMPI may b e useful for identifying schizophrenia premorbidly.