MMPI AS A PREDICTOR OF PSYCHOSOCIAL ADAPTATION TO CANCER

Examined the utility of the MMPI as a longitudinal predictor of psychosocial adaptation to cancer. A sample of 133 newly diagnosed cancer patients (mean age 50.2 yrs) representing 5 types of neoplastic disease was selected from consecutive hospital admissions. Patients were given the MMPI at the time of diagnosis and were evaluated at 5 follow-ups over a period of 6 mo. Dependent measures of adjustment included a composite emotional distress indicator (Profile of Mood States plus Index of Vulnerability), percentage of problems in 6 psychosocial areas (Inventory of Current Concerns), actual problem resolutions, and reported number of physical symptoms. Semistructured interviews were also completed. A multiple regression analysis showed that significant amounts of variance (p < .001) could be accounted for by using the MMPI scales as the sole predictors. A post hoc discriminant analysis revealed that 75% of all patients could have been correctly classified into a high-distressed vs a low-distressed cancer patient group using only the MMPI (p < .001). (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1979 American Psychological Association.