Environmental sensitivity (referred to as trait sensitivity)-the capacity to perceive and process both supportive and adverse environmental experiences-may influence adolescent development, yet evidence in adolescence is scarce compared with that in childhood. We analyzed adolescent self-reports and maternal ratings from 2,375 Japanese adolescents across three studies. In Studies 1-2, the 21-item Highly Sensitive Child scale showed a bifactor structure (general sensitivity plus Ease of Excitation-Low Sensory Threshold and Aesthetic Sensitivity), with good internal consistency and moderate test-retest reliability; trait sensitivity correlated positively with negative emotionality, behavioral inhibition, neuroticism, and openness. The general sensitivity factor accounted for approximately half of the variance in the total score. In Study 3 adolescents were followed across three waves, testing interactions between trait sensitivity and environmental factors (i.e., parent and peer relationships). No significant interactions were detected; rather, trait sensitivity and environmental factors showed additive associations with developmental outcomes. Trait sensitivity predicted higher internalizing problems and greater prosocial behavior. In summary, the psychometric properties of the HSC-J21 were consistent with those of the original version developed by Weyn et al.
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.
This study investigates psychological change in individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) using the MMPI-2-RF within the context of a multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT), as part of the BOOTS project. A sample of 81 participants completed pretreatment and follow-up MMPI-2-RF (36 months later) and satisfied the standard MMPI-2-RF validity criteria. Change versus stability was examined in terms of mean levels as well as individual relative rankings over time, and reliable change indices. In general, moderate to large mean effect-sizes were observed across the hierarchy of the MMPI-2-RF scales, which were quite consistent in pattern with the recent BOOTS outcome paper, albeit with smaller effect-sizes. In terms of rank order stability and proportion attaining reliable change, generally more patients shifted position on internalizing scales than on externalizing scales, but this may in part be an artifact of more historical items on the latter. Although the present study is specific to individuals meeting criteria for BPD, we argue that inspection of the MMPI-2-RF pattern of change may have more broad clinical utility in profiling change in psychopathology over time or treatment.
