Exploring Associations Between the MMPI-3 and Measures of Borderline Personality Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Dissociation in a Sample of Incarcerated Women.

Abstract

Trauma is highly prevalent among women involved in the criminal justice system, many of whom experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Accurately diagnosing PTSD can be challenging for clinicians given its overlapping features and frequent co-occurrence with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and dissociative disorders. The present study examined associations between MMPI-3 scales and external measures of BPD, PTSD, and dissociation in a sample of 262 incarcerated women housed at a Midwestern state prison. Criterion measures included the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS), McLean Screening Instrument for Borderline Personality Disorder (MSI-BPD), Personality Disorder Severity ICD-11 (PDS-ICD-11), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) with Criterion A, Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5), and Dissociative Subtype of PTSD Scale (DSPS). As anticipated, measures of BPD, PTSD, and dissociation demonstrated overlapping patterns of associations with several MMPI-3 scales, particularly Emotional/Internalizing Dysfunction (EID), Dysfunctional Negative Emotions (RC7), Aberrant Experiences (RC8), Cognitive Complaints (COG), Suicidal/Death Ideation (SUI), and Anxiety-Related Experiences (ARX). These findings provide further support for the utility of the MMPI-3 in assessing clinically relevant features associated with BPD, PTSD, and dissociation. More broadly, they highlight the importance of careful differential diagnosis and the use of trauma-informed approaches to assessment and treatment among incarcerated women.