RESUMEN
The possibility of content bias in the MacAndrew's Alcoholism Scale (MAC) from the MMPI was examined in groups of seizure disorder (n = 35), general medical (n = 25), and psychiatric patients (n = 20). Scores above criteria on the MAC were associated with reported alcohol problems only for the psychiatric patients. Almost 50% of the seizure patients with no such history had scores above criteria on the MAC. This classification inaccuracy is even greater than that reported recently in contemporary normal samples. The results suggest that caution should be used when one is administering the MAC to seizure disorder patients and that further investigation of possible content bias in other MMPI scales or subscales should be pursued.
Asunto(s)
Alcoholismo/psicología , MMPI , Convulsiones/psicología , Adulto , Alcoholismo/diagnóstico , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Servicio de Psiquiatría en Hospital , PsicometríaRESUMEN
Deficits in memory, learning, and attention were examined in a sample of 57 patients admitted for investigation of intractable seizure disorder. The patients were grouped according to seizure type and nature of electroencephalographic abnormality. Patients with complex partial seizures were impaired in comparison with controls. Patients with spike-and-wave abnormalities were more impaired on some tests, while those with slow-wave abnormalities were impaired on other tests. These results suggest that, contrary to previous studies, patients with complex partial seizures have greater deficits than other seizure types in some areas of cognitive function.