Racial differences on psychological measures in combat veterans seeking treatment for PTSD

J Pers Assess. 1996 Feb;66(1):41-53. doi: 10.1207/s15327752jpa6601_3.

Abstract

In this article, we examined racial differences in psychometric data on 4 commonly used self-report inventories administered to a group of 206 combat veterans evaluated at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center outpatient posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment program. Patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related PTSD, Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Black veterans showed greater elevations than White veterans on the DES, and the F-K index and Scales 6 and 8 of the MMPI-2. In addition, normative data are presented for the entire sample on each measure. Results suggest that, consistent with studies using the original MMPI, these patients endorse severe levels of psychopathology across a broad range of symptoms, including depression and disturbed thinking. Implications for clinical practice and future research are addressed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American / psychology*
  • Combat Disorders / diagnosis
  • Combat Disorders / ethnology*
  • Combat Disorders / psychology
  • Combat Disorders / rehabilitation
  • Humans
  • MMPI / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Assessment / statistics & numerical data*
  • Personality Inventory / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Veterans / psychology*
  • White People / psychology*