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MMPI-2

William P. Wattles, Ph.D.

Francis Marion University

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MMPI-2 with Adolescents

• Should not be used with people less than 18

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MMPI-2 with Older Adults

• Higher scores on: – 1, 2, 3, 0

• Lower scores on:– 4, 9

• MMPI-2 generally valid with older adults

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Studies with older adults

• Most studies cross-sectional– Cohort factors– One longitudinal study found similar results

• Differences do not suggest pathology but genuine concerns about health. – Age-related changes in physical health

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Cohort Effects

• Patterns of disease frequency due to an exposure occurring to a group of people at about the same time in their lives

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MMPI-2 with Ethnic Minorities

• Assessing MMPI-2 and minorities– Any difference = bias– Assess Validity

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Data on African-Americans

• Slightly higher scores on scales 8 & 9.

• Not seen when matched for demographics, ses

• Differences tend to be associated with relevant extratest characteristics.

Explanation for differences

• Accurate measurement of different personality traits.

• Social desirability• Role conflicts• Modesty expectations• Language/experience

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MMPI-2 with Ethnic Minorities

• No consistent differences across all populations

• Moderator variables such as education, income, age, and type of pathology explain most differences.

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MMPI-2 with Hispanics

• Differences between groups relatively small and not statistically or clinically significant.

• Language and reading obviously an issue.

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Medical Patients

• Large Mayo clinic study suggests that medical problems alone do not result in elevated profiles.

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Screening for Substance Abuse

• Elevated Scale 4• Mac Andrews Scale• AAS• APS• Beware false negatives

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MMPI-2 and employment screening

• Screen for psychopathology– Limited to sensitive occupations

• Air traffic controller

• Police officer

• Nuclear power plant operator

• Predict quality of job performance– Negative work attitude scale interesting– MMPI-2 Not recommended

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MMPI-2 and employment screening

• Applicants usually defensive.

• Invalid profile for defensiveness should not be cause to disqualify.

• Thus, scores above 65 meaningful

• 60-65 may indicate problems.

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Report writing

• Interpretive strategy

• Use MMPI-2 to generate hypotheses

• Not all interpretive data applies to each subject

• MMPI-2 deal in probabilities

• Blind interpretation problematic

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Report writing

• Test-taking attitude– Missing items may indicate indecisiveness,

ambivalence – Long test times can mean indecisiveness,

confusion– Qualitative analysis of behavior

• Upset

• Atypical difficulties

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Report writing

• Test-taking attitude– Yea-saying (TRIN)– L scale naïve, global denial– K scale defensive, self-critical

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Report Writing

• Adjustment Level– Psychological comfort,

overall elevation

– Scores above 65 suggest discomfort.

– Welsh’s Anxiety (A)

– Ego Strength (ES)

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Characteristic Functioning

1. Symptoms

2. Major needs1. Dependency, achievement

3. Perceptions1. View of others and optimism

4. Reactions to stress1. Coping style and effectiveness

5. Self-concept

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Characteristic Functioning

6. Sexual orientation

7. Emotional control

8. Interpersonal relationships

9. Psychological resources

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Dynamics and Etiology

• Higher order inferences about underlying dynamics and cause

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Diagnostic Impressions

• MMPI-2 can be a tool in settling on a diagnosis if required for insurance etc.

• Diagnosis can be in the form of a symptom description.

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Treatment Implications.

• A primary goal of assessment is to make treatment recommendations.– To treat or not– Type of treatment– Prognosis– Receptiveness to treatment– Motivation

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