“Short-Form” Content Scales for the MMPI

Summary

Using an abbreviated version of content scales derived by a rational-theoretical approach to the MMPI item pool rather than the traditional criterion group approach, this report demonstrates both satisfactory long- short-form correlations and promising internal consistency for these short-form scales. Comparing women discharged from a psychiatric hospital (N = 40) and non-psychiatric controls (N = 41), these content scales differentiate the two groups both at the beginning of an aftercare intervention study and approximately 20 months later. Mood scales are somewhat less stable over time, especially among patients. While not correlated with age or verbal intelligence, several scales are correlated with measures of social status.