Date of Award

1994

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.A.

Department

Psychology

Keywords

Psychology, Personality.

Supervisor

Lafreniere, Kathryn,

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Personality characteristics of 26 females and 7 males with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) were assessed using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). Participants were recruited through local physicians and support groups. The average MMPI-2 profiles obtained for males and females in this study were compared to the average MMPI-2 profiles established for male and female CFS subjects in other studies (Miller Iger, 1992) using t-tests to determine if they were comparable. In addition, the relationship between fatigue severity and personality characteristics as measured by the MMPI-2 was investigated using both correlational methods and t-tests. MMPI-2 scores of high and low fatigue groups were compared to determine if there were any significant differences. Fatigue severity was assessed using a visual analogue scale, a Fatigue Questionnaire developed by Wessely and Powell (1989), and The Fatigue Severity Scale developed by Krupp, LaRocca, Muir-Nash, and Steinberg (1989). Group membership was determined using a median split method. Although the mean MMPI-2 scores for male and female subjects in this study were significantly different from the established profiles on some scales, clinically significant elevations were found for the same basic clinical scales. With respect to the relationship between fatigue severity and personality characteristics, it was found that fatigue severity was positively correlated with scores on theoretically related MMPI-2 scales. In addition, high and low fatigue groups differed significantly on some MMPI-2 scales. This study supports the use of the MMPI-2 as an aid to the diagnosis of CFS as there is a unique profile for CFS sufferers that differs from that of depressed patients (Miller Iger, 1992).Dept. of Psychology. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis1994 .C645. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 34-02, page: 0891. Adviser: Kathryn Lafreniere. Thesis (M.A.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 1994.

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