Comparative validity of strategies and indices for differential diagnosis of depressive states from other psychiatric conditions using the MMPI

Used as source of data the MMPI protocols of 223 18-60 yr old psychiatric inpatients randomly divided into 2 groups for a double cross-validation design, clinical diagnosis of depressive vs nondepressive states as criterion, and multiple regression as the main analytic technique. The individual validity of MMPI scales constructed through empirical (external criterion), purely intuitive, and intuitive plus internal consistency techniques was lower than the validity of regression models. The validity and cross-validity of regression equations obtained from several different sets of scales including "linear models" composed of single scales and "configural models" that included their binary cross-products was very similar across models and across construction techniques of the component scales. A simplified regression formula is provided for diagnostic purposes. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).