MMPI Flashcards
Scale 1
Hypochondriasis – H(s)
- Somatic complaints/chronic pain
- No Harris Lingo
Scale 2
Depression (D)
- Anhedonia/negative affect
Scale 3
Hysteria – Hy
- Extroverted, dramatic, emotional difficulties
Scale 4
Psychopathic Deviate (Pd) - Problems with authority - Low tolerance of boredom/impulse control issues - Blame others -
Scale 5
Masculinity-Femininity (Mf)
-
Scale 6
Paranoia (Pa)
- Suspicious, mistrustful, possible psychosis
-
Scale 7
Psychasthenia (Pt)
- Perfectionistic, tense, self-critical
- Might have anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive symptoms
Scale 8
Schizophrenia (Sc)
- Social/emotional alienation, unusual beliefs, chaotic interpersonal relationships
- Very elevated = psychosis
Scale 9
Hypomania (Ma)
- Hyperactivity, irritability, sensation seeking
- > 75 suggestive of manic
Scale 0
Social Introversion (Si) High = Introversion, general subjective distress, emotionally over-controlled Low = extroverted, gregarious, competitive
What is the Paranoid V/Psychotic Valley
- Elevations in scales 6 and 8 and a low point on scale 7
- serious mental illness with psychotic symptoms
When/how should you interpret Harris Lingos? Why are they useful?
- Only if the parent scale is significantly elevated (T > 65)
- Note when there is a significant difference in elevation within a subscale (one score is ≥ 10 points above the next highest score)
- Helpful When:
- Person obtains a high score on a clinical scale when that elevation was not expected from history and other available info
- When the clinical scales are marginally elevated (T = 65-70) and many of the interpretations suggested for high scores are not appropriate for the marginally elevated score
What are the content scales useful for? When are they significant? What is one concern with them?
- Used to clarify clinical scales, shed light on areas of functioning that the clinical scales do not measure
- T ≥ 65
- Content is obvious, so validity scores are extra important!
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What are the supplemental scales? When/how should you interpret?
- ad hoc collection of scales developed over the course of the test’s history
- provide information not available from the clinical scales about specific areas of personality function
- T ≥ 65 is HIGH (in general)
- AAS/APS T > 60 is high
T ≤ 40 is LOW
- AAS/APS T > 60 is high
How to interpret code types? When are they well defined?
- Rank all scales (excluding 0 and 5) from highest to lowest T score
- First two numbers = 2-point code type
- First three numbers = 3-point code type
- The 2-point code type is well defined if the T score between the 2nd highest scale and 3rd highest scale is greater than 5
- The 3-point code type is well defined if the T score between the 3rd highest scale and 4th highest scale is greater than 5
How many omissions is suspicious/not interpretable?
10 omitted should be interpreted with caution
30 omitted items is invalid or highly suspect
> 30 = invalid
Top to bottom process for interpretting MMPI
- Check dangerousness
- Check validity
- Check omitted items:
- 10 omitted should be interpreted with caution
- 30 omitted items is invalid or highly suspect, greater than 30 do not interpret
- Look at clinical elevations to determine code type
- Is code type well defined?
- If yes, look up code type in text for interpretation notes
- Check other clinical scales not included in code type
- More weight should be placed on higher elevations and when code type is very well-defined
- Check Harris-Lingoes Subscales with elevated parental scales and take note, especially when there is a significant difference in subscales (e.g., 10 points)
- Check Content Scales for elevations and take note
- Check the Content Component Subscales with elevated parental scales and take note, especially when there is a significant difference in subscales (e.g., 10 points)
- Check the Supplemental Scales and take note
- Look for similar characteristics listed in multiple places in your notes
- Put more weight the higher the elevations and the more defined
- Write out your summary
What is unique about the PAI-A?
- It assess for BPD
What is the time frame for the BDI? What is important to check with it? What are the score ranges?
- Last two weeks (inlcuding today)
- Check validity and suicidal ideation questions, follow up with the client as necessary
Score ranges:
- 0 to 13 is considered minimal range
- 14-19 is considered mild
- 20-28 is considered moderate
- 29-63 is considered severe
What does the BAI measure, and in what time frame?
- Measures physical/somatic anxiety
- Time frame: within the past week (including today)
What is the CNS Scale? What are some causes for high numbers? If excessive omission after item 370, what can still be interpreted?
- Cannot Say
- Carelessness, confusion, indecisiveness
- Deliberate attempt to avoid admitting undesirable things about oneself
- Original clinical or validity scales will not be impacted and they can be interpreted
What is the VRIN? What are the ranges?
- Variable Response Inconsistency Scale
- If similar/opposite questions pairs and inconsistent in responses, it indicates test-taker did not read the item content OR intentionally responded in a random manner
- A raw score of 13, or a T score > 80 indicates inconsistent responding that invalidates the resulting protocol; T 70-79 should cause suspicion
What is the TRIN? What are the ranges?
- True Response Inconsistency Scale
- Designed to detect fixed responding
- x >80 = invalid
F (infrequency)
- Overreporting,
- Cry for help
- Indiscriminately answering/fixed answering
FB (and ranges/interactions with F)
- Change from from to back of test; fatigue or change in responding style
- > 110 clinical
- > 90 nonclinical
- 30 t score points above F = change in responding
FP
- Overreporting
FBS
- Noncredible reporting of emotional distress
L
- Intentional underreporting, claiming uncommon values
K corection
- Unintentional under-reporting (defensiveness)
S (superlative)
- Defensiveness
