Psychometric developments in psychosocial assessment in behavioral medicine settings

Psychosocial and behavioral factors play a major role in health preservation, medical outcomes, and healthcare delivery, together encompassing healthcare outcomes. Several broadband psychometric instruments (MMPI, MBHI, MBMD) have been useful in predicting healthcare outcomes relevant to behavioral medicine research and practice. The MMPI has been shown to predict pain-related outcomes, surgical outcomes, and the course of some diseases. The MBHI and MBMD have been shown to predict outcomes in HIV/AIDS, cancer, end-stage renal disease, heart disease, organ and stem cell transplant populations, and responses to anti-retroviral, anti-coagulant, and pain treatment programs. Recent validation studies with the MBMD have produced normative data and specialized reports for bariatric surgery patients and pain treatment settings, and predictive validity research is accumulating.