The purpose of the present investigation was to inquire into the validity of Rule 1 (Normal vs Abnormal) of Goldberg's MMPI sequential diagnostic system for patients with epilepsy. One hundred and five patients with epilepsy were classified according to their psychiatric status by a rater blind to MMPI scores. Consistent with Goldberg's predictions as well as with past research on other populations, Rule 1 was completely successful in discriminating among groups of patients with epilepsy classified according to psychiatric status but was substantially less accurate in making individual classifications. We conclude that Rule 1 of Goldberg's sequential diagnostic system is valid for epilepsy.
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