MMPI-2 Flashcards
What are all the MMPI-2 Clinical Scales, in order?
Hs, D, Hy, Pd, Mf, Pa, Pt, Sc, Ma, Si
Hypochondriasis Depression Hysteria Psychopathic Deviate Masculine/Feminine Paranoia Psychasthenia Schizophrenia Hypomania Social Introversion
Minimum reading level for the MMPI-2?
6th grade
Describe the T-Scores on the MMPI-2 Clinical Scales (i.e. what kind of T-Scores are used?)
Uniform, with the exception of Mf and Si, which are linear.
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 1 (Hs)
Somatic/Physical issues
- Mild elevation-> actual physical problems
- High elevation-> vague, dramatic, bizarre somatic concerns
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 2 (D)
Distress/Dysphoria
- Mild elevation-> distress, dissatisfaction in life, mild depression
- Significant elevations-> more serious/clinical depression
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 3 (Hy)
Denial+Physical symptoms
- Mild elevation-> medical patients; patients with mild tendencies to avoid feelings; express emotions through physical ailments
- Higher elevations-> denial of emotional problems; major tendency to express feelings through physical symptoms; lack of insight; conforming, naive, immature psychologically
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 4 (Pd)
Rebelliousness, Antisocial Behavior
- Mild elevation-> socially-acceptable rebellion; dislike of authority
- High elevation-> tendency to engage in antisocial/criminal behaviors; serious disregard for authority; angry, impulsive behavior
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 5 (Mf)
Gender conformity
- High scores-> ID with opposite sex gender roles
- Lower scores-> ID with traditional roles
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 6 (Pa)
Paranoia
- Mild elevations-> suspicious; rationalizing; blaming others
- Higher elevations-> frank paranoia; hostility towards others; persecution anxiety
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 7 (Pt)
Anxiety
- Mild elevations-> obsessive thoughts; generalized anxiety; self-doubt
- Higher elevations-> anxiety disorder
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 8 (Sc)
Unusual, bizarre experiences; Social alienation; Severe stress reaction
-High elevations (>75) -may- suggest psychosis; head injury; schizoid personality; acute distress; cry for help; substance abuse
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 9 (Ma)
Activity Level
- Mild elevation-> distractibility, high energy, occasional grandiosity, suspiciousness, irritability
- Higher elevation-> hypomanic to manic symptoms
Describe MMPI-2 Scale 0 (Si)
Social Participation/Withdrawal
- Low scores (T extroverted
- Moderate scores-> more introverted
- Elevations (T>65)-> social withdrawal; avoidance; insecurity; aloofness; schizoid?
Six steps to interpretation of MMPI-2
- Validity
- ID all code types >65T and look at all combinations
- ID spike if present
- Identify significant configurations
- Look at Content, Harris-Lingoes, etc.
- Look at Critical Items: 303, 506, 520, 524
Validity-Combos-Spikes-Configs
Additional-Critical
Critical items
303, 506, 520, 524
Conversion V
1 and 3 (Hs and Hy) >65
and higher than 2 (D) by 8+ points
-Physical complaints
-Repressed pain/express through
physical problems
-Looks for social approval
-Sees physical issues as legitimate way to get attention
-Depressed (but maybe not reporting)
-Rigid personality
-Passive-dependent in relationships
-Sexual problems
- 70
* 60 Hy D Hs
Scarlet O’Hara V
4 and 6 (Pd and Pa) >65 and 5 (Mf) < 50
- Angry, externalizing, blaming; passive in relationships and so passive-aggressive, manipulative
- Demanding, dependent
- Provoke others, then feel sorry for themselves if mistreated
- 70
* 45 Pd Mf Pa
Identify these V’s on the MMPI-2
a) 123
b) 456
c) 678
a) Conversion V
b) Scarlett O’Hara V
c) Psychotic V
Psychotic V
6 and 8 (Pa and Sc) both >65 and higher than 7 (Pt) by 8+ -suspicious, distrustful, irritable -poor relationships, emotionally distant -difficulties with thought process, maybe delusions -inferiority, guilt -paranoia/psychosis likely
- 70
* 60 Pa Pt Sc
Nonpsychotic 678 configuration
7 (Pt) is >65 and higher than 6 and 8 (Pa and Sc)
-Anxiety is prominent
-Tense, concerned with failure, worried about judgment
-Broodingly resentful (if 6^)
or ruminative/confused (if 8^)
Spike definition on MMPI-2
When any scale is >65 and higher than all other scales by at least 8T
Psychotic vs. Neurotic Slope on the MMPI-2
Psychotic: when most of the scales to the RIGHT of scale 5 are ^
Neurotic: when most of the scales to the LEFT are ^
Helps with a very quick, general determination of the testee’s disposition
K+ Profile on the MMPI-2
- No clinical scales ^65
- Six scales at or below 56
- L and K > F by at least 5T
- K > 60
48% of patients with this pattern were found psychotic. May indicate denial esp. with inpatient
What are three cases where MMPI-2 can be invalid due to a single validity scale?
Cannot Say > 30
VRIN > 16
TRIN 13
What is the purpose of Fb on the MMPI-2?
- Functions like the F scale in that items were endorsed in deviant direction by <10% of normative sample.
- Purpose: to analyze test-taking behavior- specifically, to compare reporting in the two halves of the test. This can help detect faking-good/faking-bad, fatigue, or tendency to become provoked.
What is Fp on the MMPI-2 and why is it important?
- Designed to understand F scale elevations.
- Items reflect infrequent [<20%] endorsement by two psychiatric populations.
- May be elevated by random response, poor reading comp., actual psychopathology, or faking bad.
- Does NOT invalidate clinical profile, as many items do not load on clinical scales. Can affect content scales, though.
What is a floating profile on the MMPI-2?
- Very high F (>80T)
- All or most clinical scales >65T
What are the nine validity scales on the MMPI-2?
?, L, F, K, VRIN, TRIN, Fb, F(p), S
Cannot Say Lie Infrequency Correction Variable Response Inconsistency True Response Inconsistency F-Back Infrequency-Psychopathology Superlative
Define and compare VRIN and TRIN on the MMPI-2
VRIN: Designed to detect inconsistent or
contradictory responding.
-High scores can indicate poor comprehension
or lack of cooperation.
-Complements L, F, K.
+F, +VRIN = carelessness;
+F, -VRIN = psychopathology or faking bad
TRIN: Also detects inconsistent/contradictory
responses, but only opposite pairs are used in
the scale.
-High TRIN (>13) suggests indiscriminate True answers, <5 suggests the opposite.
Describe the Infrequency scale (F) on the MMPI-2
- 60 items; 90% of normals responded in the same direction (therefore only 10% deviant responses)
- Controls typically have 55T or under (Raw score of 6)
- Main theme is psychoticism. Can be poor comprehension, random response, severe psychosis, or malingering.
Describe the Lie scale (L) on the MMPI-2
- Detects attempts to present self favorably. Measures attitudes/practices that are laudable but rarely found in most people.
- Low L: patient acknowledges faults. More sophisticated people tend to score lower on L.
- High L: Patient is trying to present self in the most positive way possible, rejecting shortcomings or unfavorable characteristics. Likely unsophisticated. High scorers can be rigid, concrete thinkers.
Describe the K correction scale (K) on the MMPI-2
- Measures defensiveness in terms of managing daily stressors, rather than morality/good-personhood like the L scale.
- Low K: overwhelmed by stressors, unable to cope
- High K: general competence. Higher ed. and voc. achievement can lead to high, but not elevated, scores. High K in emotionally troubled people can mean lack of insight, dogmatism, intolerance, controlling nature
Describe the Superlative Self-Presentation scale (S) on the MMPI-2
- Measures belief in human goodness, serenity, contentment, patience (denial of irritability/anger), denial of moral flaws
- Highly correlated with K
- Can reflect real adjustment or defensiveness/distortion. If S and K are both moderately high and Pt is high functioning, then it can reflect good ego functioning.
How is the F-Fb index used to determine MMPI-2 validity?
- Fb > F by 6 or more = invalid back half
- May reflect fatigue or other problems later in the test.
- Whole test is therefore invalid.
What is the F-K index on the MMPI-2 and how is it used?
-F-K is the dissimulation index. Determines whether or not the person completed the test appropriately or attempted to exaggerate psychopathology.
- F-K > 12 (women) or 17 (men) = “fake bad”
- F-K < 0 = “fake good”
-F-K is more useful for identifying fake bad profiles
Describe the Harris-Lingoes scales on the MMPI-2
- They apply to scales 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9; not 1, 7 (too homogeneous)
- Used to explain marginally or unexpected clinical elevations
- Examples: D5, Brooding; Pd1, Familial Discord
Describe the Content scales on the MMPI-2
- Require all 567 items
- Refine meanings of clinical scales
- Limited usefulness with High or Low K, Low L, High F
-T>60-64 only some descriptors apply
T>65 many descriptors will apply
