How to Read the MMPI-2

The MMPI-2 is a revision of the original MMPI, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. The MMPI is a psychological assessment tool used to evaluate individuals’ personalities and psychopatholgies. Because of its size and complexity, the MMPI-2 often obstructs non-psychologists in its interpretation. However, regardless of your background in psychology, there is a set of simple strategies useful in interpreting the MMPI-2. In general, this involves looking at the variety of the clinical scales in the MMPI-2 results in terms of their associated T-scores. Then you may interpret what the high T-scores mean. What is considered a high score differs for each scale.

Instructions

    • 1

      Check the Hypochondriasis scale. If the T-scores are greater than 80, it implies that this person may have abnormal and dramatic concerns or delusions. If they between 60 and 80, it usually implies that the person has a selfish or narcissistic personality.

    • 2

      Check the Depression scale. If the T-score for this scale exceeds 70, it implies that the test taker is likely to be depressed, with a pessimistic attitude.

    • 3

      Check the Hysteria scale. Test takers who score above 80 on this scale likely show symptoms of hysteria. In many cases, test takers who score this high suffer from real medical problems, such as chronic pain. This is because people who suffer from hysteria often develop physical symptoms in response to stress.

    • 4

      Check the Psychopathic Deviate scale. Those test takers with scores exceeding 75 tend to have difficulty assimilating in society. These individuals will often display socially deviant behaviors.

    • 5

      Check the Masculinity-Femininity scale. High scores on this scale (T-scores above 60) indicate a rejection of traditional gender roles, regardless of the test taker’s sex. For example, a male scoring high on this scale likely has less masculine interests than most men, preferring activities such as housekeeping and child rearing.

    • 6

      Check the Paranoia scale. Scores over 70 imply that the individual has disturbed thought patterns, including delusions of grandeur or persecution.

    • 7

      Check the Psychasthenia scale. Those with scores exceeding 60 tend to worry excessively over small problems. In addition, these individuals may exhibit physical symptoms, including insomnia, fatigue and nightmares.

    • 8

      Check the Schizophrenia scale. T-scores from 75 to 90 imply the presence of a real psychotic disorder. These individuals are likely to experience confusion or hallucinations. Scores over 90 are indicative of an individually purposefully responding positively on questions that ask about deviant thought patterns or behaviors; these people are unlikely to be psychotic and are instead answering these questions in such a manner as a cry for help.

    • 9

      Check the Hypomania scale. Scores of 80 and above indicate mania. That is, the individual may exhibit many meaningless behaviors that are meant to exhibit the individual’s sense of superiority or emotional stability.

    • 10

      Check the Social Introversion scale. Those who score above 70 on this scale tend to be shy, having few friends and avoiding social situations.

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