Treatment outcomes of Vietnam veterans with PTSD and the consistency of the MCMI

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychology 1989-07, Vol.45 (4), p.547-552
• Main Authors: Hyer, Lee, Woods, Marilyn G., Bruno, Ralph, Boudewyns, Patrick
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Combat Disorders - psychology; Combat Disorders - therapy; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Mental disorders; Personality Inventory; Problem Solving; Psychiatric Department, Hospital; Psychotherapy, Group - methods; Social research; Stress; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; Tests; Veterans; Veterans - psychology; Vietnam
• ISSN: 0021-9762; 1097-4679
• DOI: 10.1002/1097-4679(198907)45:4<547::AID-JCLP2270450408>3.0.CO;2-W

This study addresses two issues: treatment changes on the MCMI of Vietnam veterans with PTSD and test‐retest reliability of the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI). Fifty Vietnam veterans carefully were identified for the diagnosis Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). They were admitted to a Special PTSD Treatment Unit that consisted of an intense 5‐week period with the focus on the revivified Vietnam experience. They also were given the MCMI at two points in time, treatment inception and 35 days later at discharge. Results show that 17 of 20 scales on the MCMI changed in the negative direction as a result of treatment. Also, the MCMI has adequate test‐retest reliability, and the personality scales (with the exception of Borderline) have higher reliability coefficients than do symptom scales. The use of the MCMI is encourged both as a monitor of treatment for these veterans and for its stability.