Rosa Novo

Although there is a growing body of research focused on the personality characteristics of victims and offenders, only a few studies have investigated both groups through robust and comprehensive measures of personality. The present study aimed to compare the PAI and MMPI-2-RF profiles between victims and offenders and investigate the influence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on their results. Samples of 107 female victims (age: M = 42.71; SD = 11.25) and 154 male inmates (age: M = 36.51; SD = 12.72) were compared, and statistically significant differences were found on several PAI and MMPI-2-RF scales. While the victims tended to score higher on scales such as Anxiety, Stress, Somatic Complaints and Thought Dysfunction, the inmates scored higher on scales related to Antisocial Traits, Drug Problems, and Aggressiveness-Revised, among others. Both groups reported a large number of ACEs, and linear regression analyses revealed that ACEs predicted PAI and MMPI-2-RF scores. A discriminant analysis also found that specific ACEs accurately discriminate psychological characteristics between victim and offender groups. In conclusion, the PAI and the MMPI-2-RF provided valuable information on the characteristics of victims and inmates, contributing to a better understanding of the nature of victimization and crime perpetration.

The clinical-organizational context (where clinical psychology services are provided in the individuals’ professional setting) has still been insufficiently approached in research, namely the influence it may have on the response attitudes of individuals undergoing psychological assessment. Our main goal is to find out if, when psychological assessment occurs in the workplace context, patients being assessed present specific response bias that may have implications for the clinical results and correlative decisions. Five hundred and ten adult participants grouped in two samples of ambulatory patients – Clinical-Organizational Sample (COS n = 238) and Clinical Sample (CS n = 272) – were assessed with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-RF validity and substantive scales. Under-reporting is five times more frequent in the COS, which presents Defensiveness (11%), and Desirability (5%). In the CS, under-reporting is residual and over-reporting is more prevalent than in the COS. Clinical record information of COS participants presenting under vs. over-reporting also reveal differences concerning their circumstances, and type of clinical conditions. Comparing participants with under-reporting in each sample, the COS had lower clinical profiles, and tended to present excessively low psychopathology and symptomology values, suggesting higher defensiveness. Finally, the fact that 33% of the COS present biased response attitudes (i.e., 15% presented under-reporting and 18% presented over-reporting) has implications for both clinical and career decision making processes. In conclusion, there are relevant differences in response attitude and psychopathology features between outpatients assessed in a traditional clinical setting and in a clinical-organizational one, suggesting the professional context of the patients may influence motivations to disclosure psychological symptoms and problems.

La minimización de síntomas es un problema relevante para la evaluación psicológica. La mayoría de los estudios utilizan diseños de simulación. Este estudio tiene como objetivo comparar la prevalencia de la minimización de síntomas y sus implicaciones, utilizando indicadores de escala única y de escala múltiple del Inventario Multifásico de Personalidad de Minnesota-2 (MMPI-2) en muestras reales. Utilizando un diseño de Grupo de Prevalencia Diferencial se evaluaron 1438 participantes, agrupados en tres muestras: dos no clínicas (comunitario y organizacional) y una muestra clínica. La muestra organizacional tuvo la mayor prevalencia de minimización de síntomas. En general, el indicador de escala múltiple LKS ≥ T65 proporcionó los mejores resultados. El análisis de la varianza reveló que el LKS ≥ T65 era también el único indicador de diferenciación, en las escalas clínicas, de los participantes que realizaban o no la minimización de síntomas, a la vez que tenía una menor probabilidad de producir errores tipo I y II. La presencia de minimización tiene una clara implicación en las puntuaciones clínicas. El indicador de escalas múltiples es el más robusto en la detección de la minimización de síntomas y es relevante para la evaluación en diferentes contextos, principalmente en lo organizacional.

Personality and psychopathology features may play an important role as predisposing factors for fibromyalgia (FM). However, psychological heterogeneity of FM patients has been suggested. Based on two personality psychopathology clusters, we intend to explore psychological heterogeneity in FM patients, specifically, to identify if personality features had other psychological and psychopathological correlates. Secondarily, we also want to identify if personality features have association with health‐related correlates. The participants were female FM patients (n = 56) between 30 and 60 years old. The instruments were: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI‐2) content and supplementary scales, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS‐11). Multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) identified that Cluster 2 (n = 24), characterized by a combination of negative affectivity and social inhibition, presented a more disturbed profile, with several features of symptomatic behavior, general maladjustment, and important clinical problem areas. The associations of personality variables with FM impact and self‐reported pain are null, with the exception of Disconstraint scale. In conclusion, FM patients may be very different at the psychological level, concerning personality and psychopathological features that may compromise their treatment. Personality and health‐related dimensions do not seem to be associated.

The fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) is a chronic widespread pain condition whose etiology remains unknown and no treatment has satisfactory levels of success. A meta-analysis has identified a distinct Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) clinical profile between FM female patients and healthy controls, and differences between FM and other chronic pain condition with clear etiology have also been found. However, heterogeneity in this population has been suggested in several studies. We aim to assess clinical aspects in FM patients, based on personality psychopathology characteristics, in order to explore heterogeneity and the existence of core common aspects. In this cross-sectional study, a relatively homogeneous sample of 56 female FM patients (M_age = 45.95, SD_age = 9.39) was assessed through MMPI-2. A K-Means cluster analysis identified two clusters, one (n = 24) with clinically significant levels in Negative Emotionality and Introversion scales. Subsequent MANOVAs identified important features of this cluster on several MMPI-2 dimensions. Moreover, several dimensions are clinically elevated in both clusters. In conclusion, the combination of psychopathological negative emotionality, interpersonal isolation, and low hedonic capacity, in a group of patients, has implications for the daily living and treatment of FM patients, and several core aspects of FM need to be addressed.

Introduction. In this quantitative, cross-sectional study we analyse the relationship between family socioeconomic status (SES) and students’ adaptation to school life, as expressed through several indicators of achievement, integration (adaptation to transitions, behaviour problems, risk behaviours, interpersonal difficulties, participation in extracurricular activities) and overall satisfaction. It was our goal to understand if students’ SES is a contributing factor for the individual differences in several school life dimensions, beyond grades, which have been usually the most prominent marker of school success.Method. Participants were 351 ninth to twelfth grade Portuguese students (ages 14-18 years) and the instrument that collected data concerning several school life dimensions was the School Path Questionnaire, which was designed for this study. Data was thereafter analysed through multivariate statistical analysis.Results show a positive association between students’ SES and school adaptation, with significant differences between the groups on most school life dimensions, namely school grades, number of retentions, school achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, interpersonal difficulties, adaptation to school transitions, and overall satisfaction about school life. The most significant differences were observed in performance related variables. It was the highest SES group that differentiated most from the remaining groups.Discussion. The pattern of results is discussed concerning the role of contextual variables such as family and community on school success and integration, and the necessity of educational interventions in order to compensate students’ unfavourable starting socioeconomic conditions at school.