Short-form MMPI findings in patients with predominantly lateralized cerebral dysfunction. Neuropsychological and computerized axial tomography-derived parameters

Short-form MMPI profiles of cerebrovascular accident and head injury patients with evidence of predominantly lateralized (N = 94) or diffuse (N = 59) cerebral damage were examined in conjunction with quantified computed axial tomographic and neuropsychological data. Results indicated that all groups tended to produce similar overall MMPI profiles, with primary elevations on Scales 8 (Sc) and 2 (D). Across the sample as a whole, patients with left hemisphere damage displayed somewhat more frequent Scale 2 elevations, although this finding was influenced by etiology effects. Left frontal lesion size among patients with left hemisphere damage was negatively associated with Scale 2 scores, and right posterior lesion size was positively associated with Scale 2 scores among patients with right hemisphere damage. Longer lesion durations generally were associated with increased MMPI scores. Results underscore the complex and multidimensional nature of the interrelationships between affective processes and localized cerebral damage.