Although many individuals with elevations on Scale 2 are depressed, an individual can display an elevated Scale 2, but not meet criteria for a Major Depressive Disorder. The clinical group for Scale 2 (depression) consisted mostly of bipolar (manic-depressive) patients during a depressive episode. Elevated scores on Scale 1 suggest the possibility of numerous somatic complaints, selfishness, immaturity, and narcissism. When the MMPI was constructed, subjects in the “clinical” group consisted of individuals who were excessively concerned with possible ailments that were believed to have limited or no organic basis.
3 McKinley and Hathaway defined Scale 1 (hypochondriasis ) as an abnormal concern over health. The first three clinical scales (hypochondriasis, depression, and hysteria) are the most relevant for medical patients and have been the most widely investigated with pain patients. Common MMPI-2 Scales Associated with Chronic Pain Table 1 summarizes the 3 main validity and 10 main clinical scales of the MMPI-2.
1 It should also be noted that there is a computerized scoring and interpretation system currently available (Pearson Assessments). Literally hundreds of validity studies have established the interpretive meanings of various clinical scale configurations. Scales that exceed a T-score of 65 (1.5 standard deviations above the mean of 50) are considered clinically significant. Raw scores are then transformed into T-scores. A patient’s score on each of these scales is compared to a normative sample, which roughly coincides with the demographic characteristics of the United States. 1Įssentially, the MMPI-2 consists of a set of 3 main validity scales, 10 standard scales, sometimes referred to as clinical scales, and numerous supplemental and subscales. The clinical groups consisted of patients in eight psychiatric diagnostic categories:Ī Masculinity-Femininity Scale and a Social Introversion Scale were added later and were based on non-clinical patients. The “normal” group consisted of, but was not limited to, visitors to, and relatives of, patients at the University of Minnesota Hospital.
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McKinley in 1943 to aid in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders it was subsequently revised in 1989 to address several issues related to the normative data and outdated language.1 Hathaway and McKinley initially used an empirical keying approach, in which test constructors selected items based on whether the items could differentiate members of a “normal” group-presumably free of psychopathology-from members of a “criterion” group, where individuals had a certain psychiatric diagnosis. 2 The MMPI was developed by Starke Hathaway and J. Still other weaknesses are inherent in more complex issues involving the entire field of personality assessment (Hathaway, 1972).ġ7 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170109 Personality, Abilities and Assessment 100%ĩ2 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl.The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is one the most widely used personality assessment instruments in the world 1 and arguably the most widely used psychological instruments to study chronic pain. Such uses have been driven by the implicit and at time explicit claims for the many diverse applications of the test into settings that its developers never foresaw. Some of these weaknesses derive from the origins of the MMPI, while others arise from the wide range of uses (and frequent misuses) to which the test has been put. While the criticisms date to shortly after the introduction of the MMPI (see Helmes and Reddon, 1993, for a review), the MMPI-2 Edward Helmes continues in wide use despite its manifest weaknesses. Since its introduction, there has also been criticism of the MMPI that has continued from early into modern times, with some of these criticisms directed at the very core functions of the MMPI. As with the Wechsler and Binet scales, and unlike the Rorschach, the venerable MMPI has undergone recent development and change, albeit not on as regular schedule or as extensive change as has been the case with the Wechsler scales.
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It is predated by some decades by the introduction of the Rorschach and the Stanford Binet and is roughly equal in age to the series of intelligence and memory tests that were begun by David Wechsler during the same period of time in the late 1930s. This length of use of a psychological test has few rivals. There are comparatively few psychological tests which continue to be in current clinical use from their original development. The year 2005 provided the 65th anniversary of the first official publication on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) (Hathaway aud McKinley, 1940).