How to Interpret the MMPI 2

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Second Version (MMPI-2) was developed by a team of researchers, headed by James Butcher at the University of Minnesota, culminating over 50 years of research efforts. Like its predecessor, the MMPI-2 was developed by administering general questions of mental health symptoms to various groups of psychiatric patients and trending response patterns of known diagnostic groups. While interpretation of raw MMPI data should only be completed by a professional with board certification in psychological testing, the layperson should know how to interpret the results given to them by this professional.

Instructions

MMPI Validity Scales

• 1

  Ask about the configuration of your L, F, K and ? scales. People who score high on the Lie Scale (L) are typically trying to present themselves in an unrealistically favorable light. For example, they may respond to questions such as "I never lie" in the affirmative. The Frequency (F) scale is similar, but measures greater extremes; individuals who are dissimulating to present themselves as mentally ill or devoid of normal feelings. The defensiveness (K) scale measures psychological guardedness. The Cannot Say (?) scale measures the number of items left unanswered. The MMPI-2 has additional validity scales, TRIN and VRIN and Fb, that detect if a person was actually reading and comprehending test items.

• 2

  Ask about the clinical scales. There are ten basic clinical scales originally developed with the MMPI that remain in the second version of the test. They are the primary scales used to assist the clinician in evaluating patterns of mental illness. They include Hypochondrias, Depression, Hysteria, Psychopathic Deviance, Masculinity/Femininity, Paranoia, Psychasthenia, Schizophrenia, Hypomania and Social Introversion. If these scales are elevated significantly, a mental illness may be present.

• 3

  Ask about the content scales. The content scales are sub-factors derived from the clinical scales and should not be interpreted unless your score on the main content scale is elevated. These scales included anxiety, fears, obsessiveness, health concerns, and bizarre mental activity, to name a few.

• 4

  Ask about the supplemental scales. Many sub-scales have been developed over the last 50 years by various researchers. The Harris-Lingoes subscales are the most commonly used. These include Subjective Depression, Psychomotor Retardation, Physical Malfunctioning, and Mental Dullness.