The main target of this study is to identify the scales in MMPI-2 which could help the differential diagnostic process between Asperger's syndrome and schizophrenia. Adult persons with Asperger's syndrome and adult persons with schizophrenia were examined. The study has a quantitative character, concretely data mining, which offers generating and verifying hypothesis. The results show that configuration of heights of specific scales can be crucial in distinguishing between Asperger's syndrome and schizophrenia. In the concrete we expect increase in 0Si, Sc1, Pa2 and OBS along with medial T-scores in Sc6, Pa1, Psyc and Biz in protocols of people with Asperger's syndrome. People with schizophrenia have increased T-scores in Sc6, Pa1, Psyc and Biz. KEY WORDS  Asperger's syndrome  Schizophrenia  Differential diagnostic  Adulthood  MMPI-2

Children who suffered parental abuse or neglect can be returned home if their safety can be ensured following offender treatment. However, some caregivers will continue to abuse or neglect their children upon return home, leading to additional treatment, state involvement, and harm to the child. This study assessed personality differences between child abusers and neglectors who were caregivers by applying a binary logistical regression analysis to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Second Edition (MMPI-2) scores sampled from archival data for 215 caregivers. Analysis showed that the abusers had statistically significant higher scores on the F Scale ('Faking Bad'), but significantly lower scores on Scale 6 (Paranoia) than neglectors. While trait theory asserts that personality aspects are fundamentally fixed, there are treatment implications for differing personality defects. Even though caregivers who had their children removed for abuse or neglect are currently treated homogenously by the legal system, it was hypothesized that the two groups, abuse or neglect, would have different personality traits. Greater insights into the caregiver personalities can lead to more specific treatment, with separate components tailored to the individual, and improved case outcomes for caregivers reunited with their children after child protective services involvement. The social change implication of this study is the continued safety of children through improved treatment for the caregiver, a decrease in recidivism, and lowered child maltreatment rates in the community through a better psychological understanding of the offending caregiver.