Validation of MMPI profile subtypes among opioid addicts who are beginning methadone maintenance treatment.

The purpose of the present research was (1) to examine the stability of MMPI subtypes within a VA drug abusing population; and (2) to provide external validation for these subtypes. The MMPI was administered to 107 male veterans who were entering methadone maintenance treatment. Normal sphere personality characteristics, sociodemographic information, and self- and interviewer ratings were collected by use of the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF) and the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Using D2 analysis, each MMPI profile was compared to the mean profile for three MMPI profile clusters obtained by Roszell, Chaney, and Blaes (1983) on a previous sample. Normal, psychoneurotic, and schizoid profiles were found in percentages similar to Roszell et al. The normal cluster was divided into two groups with and without T score elevations above 70 on the clinical scales. The normal group with profile elevations was similar to profile groups labeled as psychopathic in previous research. The four MMPI profile subtypes were compared on the 16PF and the ASI. The psychoneurotic and schizoid groups demonstrated higher levels of emotional distress and psychiatric difficulty than did the normal or psychopathic groups. The psychopathic and schizoid groups had more legal problems than the other two groups; the normal group had less evidence of marital and family problems.