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
3
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.
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Explanation for differences
• Accurate measurement • Social desirability
of different personality • Role conflicts
traits.
• Modesty expectations
• Language/experience
8
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.
9
MMPI-2 with Hispanics
• Differences between
groups relatively small
and not statistically or
clinically significant.
• Language and reading
obviously an issue.
10
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
12
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
13
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
15
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
16
Report writing
• Test-taking attitude
– Yea-saying (TRIN)
– L scale naïve, global denial
– K scale defensive, self-critical
17
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 needs
1. Dependency, achievement
3. Perceptions
1. View of others and optimism
4. Reactions to stress
1. Coping style and effectiveness
5. Self-concept
19
Characteristic Functioning
6.
7.
8.
9.
Sexual orientation
Emotional control
Interpersonal relationships
Psychological resources
20
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.
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–
–
–
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To treat or not
Type of treatment
Prognosis
Receptiveness to treatment
Motivation
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