The structure of dimensions of psychopathology in normative and clinical samples

Applying causal discovery to MMPI-2-RF scales to investigate clustering of psychopathology spectra and p-factors

Bibliographic Data

ID15523557
AuthorsRobbert J Langwerden (0000-0003-2407-9473, Florida International University, corresponding author), Paul T van der Heijden (0000-0003-3245-1917, Radboud University Nijmegen), Tom Claassen (Radboud University Nijmegen), Jan Derksen (0000-0002-1766-7640, Radboud University Nijmegen), J I M Egger (0000-0002-9311-9013, Vincent Van Gogh Voor Geestelijke Gezondheidszorg)
Year2022
Volume13
Pages1026900-1026900
Publication date2022-11-10
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1026900
PMID36440421
OpenAlexW4308873843
LanguageEN
References cited17

We applied a Bayesian Constraint-based Causal Discovery method (BCCD) to examine the hierarchical structure of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) Restructured Clinical (RC) scales. Two different general psychopathology super spectra ( p -factor) scales were extracted from (1) all RC scales and (2) all RC scales except the RCd (Demoralization) scale. These p -factor scales were included in separate models to investigate the structure of dimensions of psychopathology in a normative ( n = 3,242) and clinical ( n = 2,466) sample, as well as the combined normative/clinical sample ( N = 5,708), by applying the BCCD algorithm to obtain a data-driven reconstruction of the internal hierarchical structure of the MMPI-2-RF. Research on the underlying structure of the MMPI-2-RF has clinical relevance as well as conceptual relevance in the context of the HiTOP model. Results demonstrated that the syndromes measured with the RC-scales-in presence of a p -factor-cluster into six spectra: internalizing, disinhibited-externalizing, antagonistic-externalizing, thought disorder, detachment, and somatoform. These results may support a super spectrum construct, as it was necessary for obtaining a bottom-up reconstruction of this six-spectrum structure. We found support for superiority of a broad super spectrum with additional variance over and above demoralization, as it resulted in the clearest structure (i.e., clustering of the RC scales). Furthermore, our results indicate independent support for the bifactor structure model of psychopathology

Cluster analysis · Context (archaeology · Hierarchical clustering · Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory · Normative · Personality · Psychopathology · Statistics · Clinical Psychology · Mathematics · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Mental Health Research Topics · Personality Disorders and Psychopathology · Psychology · Social Psychology

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