The MMPI as a measure of the emotional correlates of chronic hemodialysis: a review.

The MMPI has been the most frequently used objective personality measure in studies of the emotional correlates of chronic hemodialysis for end-stage renal failure. This paper reviews MMPI findings of these studies and examines the utility of this instrument with chronic dialysis patients. Overviews of the basic research strategies employed and of the methodological shortcomings of the published studies are presented. Research findings are reviewed, and pros and cons of using the MMPI with this population are briefly discussed. The most consistent finding to date has been elevation in the "neurotic triad" (scales 1, 2, and 3), but the meaning of this configuration for dialysis patients is ambiguous.