How to Answer an MMPI For Disability

Clinical psychologists use the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to evaluate possible mental illness, determine appropriate treatment options, and assess the stability of candidates for high-risk public service positions such as firefighters, policemen and emergency medical responders. When analyzed by a trained clinician and viewed through the context of the patient's educational and life history, the MMPI can be a successful tool for identifying mental or emotional disability in a patient.

Instructions

• 1

  Answer each statement as true or false. The MMPI presents statements in first person voice, "I often feel sick in the morning." Repeat this statement to yourself and determine if this is a valid statement.

• 2

  Leave statements blank which confuse you or for which you cannot accurately supply an answer. The MMPI is designed to accept up to 30 "cannot say," or blank answers. However, 30 or more blanks will render the test invalid. Some psychologists believe that 10 or more blanks result in an invalid test score, while other believe that the test should be scored taking into consideration the blank statements. If a test is scored invalid, you will have to take it again.

• 3

  Pay attention to each question and judge it individually. The test is not timed and it is important that you give each question equal consideration to avoid skewing the results. The test will last 60 to 90 minutes depending on which version you take. The short form MMPI consists of the first 350 questions. The complete MMPI contains a total of 567 questions. If you begin to feel tired or bored, set the test aside and allow your mind to rest for a few moments.

• 4

  Be honest. The MMPI has four built-in validity scales to detect if a person is attempting to skew the answers of the test to create a more favorable outcome.