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? Scale - "Cannot Say" scale
What is the rule of thumb for this scale? |
>=10 Use caution on interpretation.
>=30 Profile is invalid. |
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What is an augmented profile? |
When omitted items are scored in the deviant direction. |
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L Scale - "Lie" scale
What are general rules? |
All deviant responses are false.
Higher Education = Lower L score
Lower Education = Higher L score |
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What are some reasons for a higher L score? |
-trying to make a favorable impression
-limited intelligence
-cultural groups (religious, moralistic)
-defensive |
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What are the rules of thumb for a low L score? |
-all TRUE response set
-normal (admits minor faults)
-trying to look pathological, but admitting several faults |
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What are the rules of thumb for a moderate L score? |
-random answering
-normal, but conforming or denies faults
-expected level for religious people and minorities |
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What are the rules of thumb for a high L score? |
-very controlled person
-low insight
-moralistic
-trying to create a favorable impression |
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What are the rules of thumb for a low F score? |
-avoids acknowledging socially unacceptable behavior
-faking good
-normal, but very convential
-often invalidates test |
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What are the rules of thumb for a moderate F score? |
-more unusual experiences than most
-perhaps psychotic but has adjusted to their psychology |
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What are the rules of thumb for a high F score? |
-severe distress
-perhaps malingering
-perhaps invalid |
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What are the rules of thumb for a extremely high F score? |
-probably not valid
-random responses
-very disorganized, psychotic |
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What are some general rules regarding the F (infrequency) scale? |
-empirically derived
-most normals endorse <5 items
-A high F may suggest exaggeration of symptoms
-most clinicians do not invalidate until a T score of 90 |
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What does the F scale deal with? |
-physical problems
-antisocial behavior
-peculiar experiences
-alienation
-bizarre ideas
-strange beliefs
-deviant attitudes |
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What is the K "Defensiveness" scale test for? |
-Measures defensiveness more subtly than the L scale
-T score >65-70 indicates defensiveness |
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What are the rules of thumb for a very-low and low K score? |
-faking bad, creating impression of severe disturbance, desires hospitalization
-lack of interpersonal skills to deal with problems, poor self-concept, extremely open and revealing |
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What are the rules of thumb for a moderate K score? |
-defensive, often unwilling to acknowledge that psychological stress exists
-denial of problems |
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What are the rules of thumb for a high K score? |
-puts up a front of having no problems
-won't admit weakness
-low insight |
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With regards to validity, what does it mean to have L&K scales >65 and F <50?
(V shaped) |
-educated people may have a normal L
-avoiding or denying acceptable feelings
-presenting themselves in the best light
-simplistic thinking
-adequate social adjustment
-common for defensive normals, hysterics, hypocondriacs
-often occurs when scales 1&3 are elevated (physical concerns)
-often a denial of psychopathology
-generally do not seek treatment and are referred |
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With regards to validity, what does it mean to have F scale >65 and L&K scales <50? |
-malingering
-trying to prove they have problems
-claims many psychological and physical problems
-cry for help
-faking bad
-can change dramatically with situational problems |
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With regards to validity, what does it mean to have a positive slope? (ex L=40,F=55,K=70) |
-normal with no psychological concerns
-college education sometimes elevates K
-Lower education or SES associated with lower L
-trying to look good
-fairly defensive pattern |
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With regards to validity, what does it mean to have a negative slope? (ex L=60,F=50,K=40) |
-naive but trying to look good
-usually low education and low SES
-often associated with elevated 1-2-3 scales
-won't admit psychological problems and is a poor candidate for therapy
-profile is stable over time |
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What does Scale 1 (hypochondriasis) measure? |
-denying good health
-admitting health problems
-sick people tend to have T scores between 60-65 |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 1 scores? |
<45=denying even vague physical complaints or is very healthy
45-55=normal # of physical complaints
55-65=concern over bodily functions or is elderly or actually sick, possibly overreacts
65-80=very concerned about health, often manipulates others with health (whiny, cynical, demands attention)
>80=possible conversion disorder, fatigue and weakness, preoccupied with somatic complaints |
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What does Scale 2 (depression) measure? |
-poor morale
-poor outlook on future
-apathy
-reflective of current mood
-most common high point of the clinical scales |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 2 scores? |
<45=alert, active, optimistic
45-55=typical number of attitudes that reflect symptomatic depression, good balance
55-65=often dissatisfied with part of themselves, may not recognize it as depression, may have adjusted to depression
>65pessimism about self, hopelessness, withdrawn, guilt |
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What does Scale 3 (hysteria) measure? |
-specific somatic complaints
-how the person sees self as well-adjusted |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 3 scores? |
<45=socially isolated, few defenses, narrow interests, few friendships, fairly dull
45-55=typical number of attitudes and behaviors reflecting hysterical dynamics
55-65=exhibitionistic, extroverted, superficial, self-centered, denies problems, avoids unpleasant issues
>65=naive, suggestive, low insight of self and others, denies problems, with stress develops physical complaints, looks for simple concrete solutions without self-examination, need to be liked, knows how to work people |
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What does Scale 4 (psychotic deviate) measure? |
-authority problems, family problems, sexual problems, angry, rebellious, disregard for rules, unable to learn from punishment
-originally designed to measure antisocial personality disorder
-seldom receives a psychotic diagnosis |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 4 scores? |
<45=rigid, conventional, easily gives in to authority, tolerates boredom, passive
45-55=typical number of complaints with respect to authority, alienation, and boredom
55-65=somewhat independant, possible situational conflict, sometimes breaks rules when necessary
>65=perhaps fighting against something that involves authority, often unreliable, rebellious, hostile, egocentric, and irresponsible. Usually tries to make a good first impression. |
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What does Scale 5 (masculinity/femininity) measure? |
-correlated with intelligence, education, and SES.
-high scoring males are sensitive, passive, and have broad cultural interests.
-high scoring females reject traditional female roles, enjoy male roles
-low scoring males are stereotypical macho men
-low scoring females are traditional in their feminine interests, passive and dependant |
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What does Scale 6 (paranoia) measure? |
-measures interpersonal sensitivity, proclaiming high moral virtue, feelings that are easily hurt, suspiciousness, excessive rationality
-African-Americans tend to have slightly higher scores on this scale
-much less stable scale than others |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 6 scores? |
<45=narrow interests, insensitive to other people's motives, underachievers
45-55=balance of trust and suspicion, perhaps paranoid but only endorsing obvious items
55-65=interpersonally sensitive, clear thinking, rational, common for MH workers, often overly sensitive to criticism
>65=suspicious, hostile, overly sensitive, high probability of a thought disorder |
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What does Scale 7 (psychasthenia/anxious) measure? |
-measures aspects of obsessions, compulsions, anxiety, worrying, unreasonable fears, guilt feelings
-good indicator of maladjustment, tension, self-doubt, difficulty concentrating
-spike 7 is rare, usually nervous/jittery |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 7 scores? |
<45=secure, emotionally stable, success oriented, lacks worries
45-55=can handle responsibilities without undo worry or anxiety
55-65=punctual in obligations, not viewed as anxious
65-85=worried, tense, indecisive, agitation might lead to overt anxiety
>85=often agitated, ruminations and obsessions, can't control the anxiety, disabling feelings of guilt, typically needs meds before Tx can help |
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What does Scale 8 (schizophrenia/creative/artistic) measure? |
-social alienation, isolation, family alienation, bizarre feelings and sensations, thoughts of external influences, peculiar bodily dysfunctions |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 8 scores? |
<45=conventional, realistic, practical, not imaginative, concrete (tends to have low scale 5)
45-55=balanced, or chronic schizophrenic who has adjusted to the disorder
55-65=often think differently from others, creative, daydream, fantasize
65-75=feel alienated, difficulty concentration (artistic range)
75-90=possible thought disorder, perhaps under acute situational stress
>90=usually NOT schizophrenia but situational stress |
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What does Scale 9 (hypomania) measure? |
-overactivity, emotional excitement, flight of ideas
-deals with egotism, irrationality, lack of inhibitors and controls
-commonly a peak for "normals"
-often the lowest score with psychotics
-as age increases, scale 9 decreases
-African Americans tend to have higher scores
-clinicians refer to this as an energy level scale
-often is an activator for other scales |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 9 scores? |
<45=low energy, fatigue, perhaps depression (especially <35)
45-55=normal activity level, college students at upper end
55-65=active, outgoing, energetic, external restrictions might lead to agitation
>65=overactive, emotionally unstable, flight of ideas, outbursts of temper, impulsive, perhaps manic or narcissistic |
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What does Scale 0 (social introversion) measure? |
-measures uneasiness in social situations, social insecurity, self-deprication, withdrawal from others, denial of impulses
-not based on a psychiatric syndrome |
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What are some general rules of thumb for Scale 0 scores? |
<45=extroverted, gregarious (<35 often superficial relationships), college students are around 45
45-55=balance between introverted and extroverted
55-65=prefer being alone or in small groups, prefer not to interact in crowds
>65=introverted, shy, socially insecure, not likely to ask SO's for help |
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