Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Obesity Surgery 10/2008

01-10-2008 | Research Article

Limitations of the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD) with Bariatric Surgical Candidates

Authors: Steven Walfish, Edward A. Wise, David L. Streiner

Published in: Obesity Surgery | Issue 10/2008

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

In this paper, we critique the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic’s (MBMD) psychometric characteristics for use with bariatric surgery patients.

Methods

The reliability data presented by the test authors in their manual were examined.

Results

The results found 16 of 32 scales of have internal consistency reliability coefficients that do not meet minimal standards for use with bariatric populations. Of the remaining 16 scales, 13 do not have any compelling evidence that they are reliable. We suggest that if a test is not psychometrically reliable then its validity is called into question. Based on these data, 16 of the MBMD’s 32 scales have inadequate reliability and 13 are lacking evidence of reliability. We urge clinicians to carefully consider these findings and the implications for their work with bariatric surgery patients.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Santry HP, Chin MC, Cagney KA, Alverdy JC Lauderdale DS. The use of multidisciplinary teams to evaluate bariatric surgery patients: results from a national survey in the USA. Obes Surg. 2006;16:59–66.PubMedCrossRef Santry HP, Chin MC, Cagney KA, Alverdy JC Lauderdale DS. The use of multidisciplinary teams to evaluate bariatric surgery patients: results from a national survey in the USA. Obes Surg. 2006;16:59–66.PubMedCrossRef
2.
go back to reference Bauchowitz AU, Gonderer-Frederick LA, Olsbrich ME, et al. Psychosocial evaluation of bariatric surgery candidates: a survey of present practices. Psychosom Med. 2005;67:825–32.PubMedCrossRef Bauchowitz AU, Gonderer-Frederick LA, Olsbrich ME, et al. Psychosocial evaluation of bariatric surgery candidates: a survey of present practices. Psychosom Med. 2005;67:825–32.PubMedCrossRef
3.
go back to reference Friedman KE, Applegate KL, Grant J. Who is adherent with preoperative psychological treatment recommendations among weight loss surgery candidates. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007;3:376–82.PubMedCrossRef Friedman KE, Applegate KL, Grant J. Who is adherent with preoperative psychological treatment recommendations among weight loss surgery candidates. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2007;3:376–82.PubMedCrossRef
4.
go back to reference Walfish S, Vance D, Fabricatore A. Psychological evaluation of bariatric surgery applicants: procedures and reasons for delay or denial of surgery. Obes Surg Jnl. 2007;17:1578–83.CrossRef Walfish S, Vance D, Fabricatore A. Psychological evaluation of bariatric surgery applicants: procedures and reasons for delay or denial of surgery. Obes Surg Jnl. 2007;17:1578–83.CrossRef
5.
go back to reference Fabricatore A, Crerand C, Wadden T, Sarwer D, Krasucki J. How do mental health professionals evaluate candidates for bariatric surgery? Survey results. Obes Surg. 2006;16:567–73.PubMedCrossRef Fabricatore A, Crerand C, Wadden T, Sarwer D, Krasucki J. How do mental health professionals evaluate candidates for bariatric surgery? Survey results. Obes Surg. 2006;16:567–73.PubMedCrossRef
6.
go back to reference Streiner DL. Starting at the beginning: an introduction to coefficient alpha and internal consistency. J Pers Assess. 2003;80:99–103.PubMedCrossRef Streiner DL. Starting at the beginning: an introduction to coefficient alpha and internal consistency. J Pers Assess. 2003;80:99–103.PubMedCrossRef
7.
go back to reference Henson RK. Understanding internal consistency reliability estimates: a conceptual primer on coefficient alpha. Meas Eval Counsel Dev. 2001;34:177–89. Henson RK. Understanding internal consistency reliability estimates: a conceptual primer on coefficient alpha. Meas Eval Counsel Dev. 2001;34:177–89.
8.
go back to reference Nunnally JC. Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw Hill; 1967. Nunnally JC. Psychometric theory. New York: McGraw Hill; 1967.
9.
go back to reference Streiner DL, Norman GR. Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their construction and use. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2008. Streiner DL, Norman GR. Health measurement scales: a practical guide to their construction and use. 4th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2008.
10.
go back to reference Carmines EG, Zeller RA. Reliability and validity assessment. Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: Sage; 1979. Carmines EG, Zeller RA. Reliability and validity assessment. Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: Sage; 1979.
11.
go back to reference Clark LA, Watson D. Constructing validity: basic issues in objective scale development. Psych Assess. 1995;7:309–19.CrossRef Clark LA, Watson D. Constructing validity: basic issues in objective scale development. Psych Assess. 1995;7:309–19.CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Heppner PP, Kivlighan DM, Wampold BE. Research design in counseling. Pacific Grove, CA, USA: Brooks/Cole; 1992. Heppner PP, Kivlighan DM, Wampold BE. Research design in counseling. Pacific Grove, CA, USA: Brooks/Cole; 1992.
13.
go back to reference Kaplan RM, Saccuzzo DP. Psychological testing: principles, applications, and issues, 4th edn. Pacific Grove, CA, USA: Brooks/Cole; 1997. Kaplan RM, Saccuzzo DP. Psychological testing: principles, applications, and issues, 4th edn. Pacific Grove, CA, USA: Brooks/Cole; 1997.
14.
go back to reference Millon T, Antoni M, Millon C, Minor S, Grossman G. MBMD Manual supplement: bariatic report. Minneapolis, MN, USA: NCS Pearson; 2007. Millon T, Antoni M, Millon C, Minor S, Grossman G. MBMD Manual supplement: bariatic report. Minneapolis, MN, USA: NCS Pearson; 2007.
16.
go back to reference Atkinson MJ. Review of the Millon behavioral medicine diagnostic. In: Plake BS, Impara JC, Spies RA, editors. The fifteenth mental measurements yearbook, Lincoln, NE, USA: Buros Institute; 2003. Atkinson MJ. Review of the Millon behavioral medicine diagnostic. In: Plake BS, Impara JC, Spies RA, editors. The fifteenth mental measurements yearbook, Lincoln, NE, USA: Buros Institute; 2003.
17.
go back to reference Caruso JC. Review of the Millon behavioral medicine diagnostic. In: Plake BS, Impara JC, Spies RA, editors. The fifteenth mental measurements yearbook, Lincoln, NE, USA: Buros Institute; 2003. Caruso JC. Review of the Millon behavioral medicine diagnostic. In: Plake BS, Impara JC, Spies RA, editors. The fifteenth mental measurements yearbook, Lincoln, NE, USA: Buros Institute; 2003.
18.
go back to reference Millon, T. Millon Behavioral Health Inventory Manual. Minneapolis, MN, USA: National Computer Systems; 1982. Millon, T. Millon Behavioral Health Inventory Manual. Minneapolis, MN, USA: National Computer Systems; 1982.
20.
go back to reference American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed, text revision. Washington, DC, USA: American Psychiatric Association; 2005. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed, text revision. Washington, DC, USA: American Psychiatric Association; 2005.
21.
go back to reference Cortina JM. What is coefficient alpha? An examination of theory and applications. J Appld Psych. 1993;78:98–104.CrossRef Cortina JM. What is coefficient alpha? An examination of theory and applications. J Appld Psych. 1993;78:98–104.CrossRef
22.
go back to reference Wise EA. Personality style code type concordance between the MCMI and MBHI. J Clin Psych. 2003;59:1279–93.CrossRef Wise EA. Personality style code type concordance between the MCMI and MBHI. J Clin Psych. 2003;59:1279–93.CrossRef
23.
go back to reference Sarwer DB, Cohn NI, Gibbons LM, et al. Psychiatric diagnosis and psychiatric treatment among bariatric surgery candidates. Obes Surg. 2004;14:1148–56.PubMedCrossRef Sarwer DB, Cohn NI, Gibbons LM, et al. Psychiatric diagnosis and psychiatric treatment among bariatric surgery candidates. Obes Surg. 2004;14:1148–56.PubMedCrossRef
24.
go back to reference Pawlow A, O’Neil PM, White MA, et al. Findings and outcomes of psychological evaluations of gastric bypass applicants. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2005;1:523–7.PubMedCrossRef Pawlow A, O’Neil PM, White MA, et al. Findings and outcomes of psychological evaluations of gastric bypass applicants. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2005;1:523–7.PubMedCrossRef
25.
go back to reference Zimmerman M, Francione-Witt C, Chelminski I, et al. Presurgical psychiatric evaluations of candidates for bariatric surgery, Part 1: reliability and reasons for and frequency of exclusion. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68:1557–62.PubMedCrossRef Zimmerman M, Francione-Witt C, Chelminski I, et al. Presurgical psychiatric evaluations of candidates for bariatric surgery, Part 1: reliability and reasons for and frequency of exclusion. J Clin Psychiatry. 2007;68:1557–62.PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Limitations of the Millon Behavioral Medicine Diagnostic (MBMD) with Bariatric Surgical Candidates
Authors
Steven Walfish
Edward A. Wise
David L. Streiner
Publication date
01-10-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Obesity Surgery / Issue 10/2008
Print ISSN: 0960-8923
Electronic ISSN: 1708-0428
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-008-9542-7

Other articles of this Issue 10/2008

Obesity Surgery 10/2008 Go to the issue