MMPI Codes Flashcards
1-2-3
Neurotic Triad
○ Patient attempting to express dysphoria into physical symptoms, but still experiences the depression
2-8-7
Tense, depressed, fear of losing control over impulses
Most common in mental health clinics, suicidal thoughts
Usually a history of isolation or unusual relations.
Could be psychotic depression
2-4
Reactive depression
- Most common prison profile
- Typical of alcoholics
- Poor family relationships
- Recidivism profile
Depressed, frustrated, dissatisfied, restless
Pessimistic about future and low self-esteem
Suicide evaluation necessary
Could also be a Secondary psychopath
● have more fear, anxiety, and neg emotions with more reactive anger
2-6
Depressed paranoids
Feels current predicament is due to unfair tx by others
Feel victimized and quick to take offense but difficulty expressing resentment directly
Depression that is internalized–repressed hostility–hostility aimed at the self.
e.g. psychiatrists; internalize everything
2-8
Schizoaffective
Depressed
Agitated
Somewhat psychotic
2-7/7-2
2-7: depression
*anxious about being depressed
7-2: anxiety, neurotic
*depressed about being anxious.
Open Depression
Low 1
High2
Low3
Only experiencing the depression, not able to manifest into physical complaints
2-9
*Increased risk for suicidality
May be a sign of organicity (brain damage)
May also occur when manic symptoms aren’t working for the patient and everything beginning to fall apart.
Scales should be inversely related
As 2 goes up, 9 goes down and vice versa.
Somatic Depression
High 1, High 3
Low 2
Converting depression into physical symptoms
Physical sensations allows for escape
Correlations with Scale 3
1& 3
common psych dimension of somatization
*3 will buffer complaining and pessimism of 1
*more concrete and specific physical symptoms
*more denial and repression with 3.
Other correlations with 3:
○ high L and high K; naive but also defensive and positive about their own self-concept
Low 3 + Low 4= rule bound and obsessive about getting things done; emotional instability= need approval and deny anger.
Virtue claimer: Hysterical personality
Low 1
2 around 50
3 in 60s
Complainer: Hysterical personality 1 around 70 2 around 50 3 around 58 some elevation in K (egocentric/self-centered)
2-3 typical of female social workers: depressed and hysterical
“Bitch Valley”
High 4
Low 5
High 6
4+6 are hostility indicators and low 5 is ultra feminine
Uses femininity in a manipulative, controlling, passive aggressive way
4-5-6 elevated (Male Bitch Valley)
○ passive femininity
4-6
Hostility Indicators
4 is more if you are in the way
6 is more don’t like or fear specific people
Hostile, impulsive, uncomfortable, acts out.
More dangerous if scale 3 is down. Because scale 3 people care about what people think so it’s a buffer against acting out.
4-7/7-4
Secondary Psychopath: anxiety and remorse about their behavior (vs. 4-9 who does not show remorse)
4-8/8-4
Very dangerous and acting out
“Schizy psychopath”
Quiet, not acting out, suddenly kill somebody
Senseless criminality
High on 8= inability to relate to other people, no empathy, inappropriate affect.
7-2/2-7 relation to 4
Depressed incarcerated psychopath: Can’t do what’s wanted
Low 3-High 4
Haters, grudge holders
Low 3s are organized and effective
Viciousness of high 4 and well organized acting out of low 3.
Will plan evil things
4-9/9-4
Delinquent pattern
Manics, psychotics, and psychopaths
Higher 4 means more destructive and vicious
*hit and rob you
Higher 9 means more charming psychopath
*con you out of your money
Typical prison repeaters
Rarely seek help on their own
4-5 (into 85 range on 5)
Correlated with homosexual acting out
2-4-6-8 (saw-tooth profile)
Most dangerous profile
○ 4 tends to act out and have no empathy, 6 and 8 are the big hostility indicators
4-6/6-4
Acting out of 4 is different than acting out in 6
Psychopaths not really vicious, they just see you as an obstacle, it isn’t personal.
Paranoids take things personally and add hostility–will try to punish or hurt you.
Psychotic Valley
High 6
Low 7
High 8
Neurotic Valley
High 1
Low 2
High 3
5-7
sexual anxiety
impotence
worry about everything, including sexual performance
sexual deviance
8-7
In normals, people who are inefficient, disorganized, personally dissatisfied, bright ppl who fail to maximize potential, anxious underachievers.
if 7 is higher than 8, good therapy candidate
if 8 higher than 7, probably bad therapy candidate
6-8
Paranoid schizophrenic
8-9
Active phase catatonic
Energetic
Delusional
Flight of ideas
Health concerns
if you disturb a catatonic long enough they will blow→ catatonic excitement→ can get some real physical danger so don’t rattle the cage
Buffers against psychosis
elevations on K, 1, or 3 (and 7 to a lesser extent)
*concerned about what others think of them
“Good Hysterics”
With average scale 2 and 3=~60:
Virtue Claimer
Low 1
elevated K
Somatic Complainer
High 1 > 70
9-6 / 6-9
Both must be 70+
This isn’t just a psychopath, this is a manicky paranoid
