MMPI-2 Flashcards
What does the MMPI-2 measure?
Measures personality traits; psychological adjustment factors; clinical symptomatology; psychopathology.
Originally developed to facilitate psychiatric diagnosis of hospitalized patients
Primary focus was on adult psychiatric classification
CNS
Can Not Say-
Number of omitted items
Possible reasons for elevation include defensiveness, lack of insight, and obsessiveness
Effects on profile: deflated scores and may make clinical scales uninterpretable
VRIN
Variable Response Inconsistency
This scale indicates the persons tendency to respond inconsistently
Detects random responding
Aids in the interpretation of infrequency scales
TRIN
True Response Inconsistency - detects fixed responding
It identifies those who true responses to items indiscriminately (acquiescence) or give false responses to items indiscriminately (nonacquiescence).
Important in detecting defensiveness
F
Infrequency
This scale identifies Over-Reporting
It detects deviant or atypical ways of responding to test items
Possible reasons for elevation include (un)intentional over-reporting, severe distress, severe psychopathology, fixed responding, and random responding
Fb
Back Side Infrequency
Designed to detect changes in responding between first and second half of the test
Fp
Infrequency Psychopathology
Designed to detect intentional over-reporting in individuals with psychopathology
More effective than F scale in identifying overreporting in situations where the test takers have received some coaching about how to overreport on the MMPI-2 w/o being detected as doing so.
Less influenced than the F scale by genuine psychopathology
K
Correction
Designed to detect unintentional underreporting (Sophisticated underreporting)
Possible reasons for elevation: defensiveness, denying symptoms OR psychological well-being and ego strength
L
Lie (“Look Good Scale”)
Designed to detect intentional under-reporting
Possible reasons for elevation: lack of insight, intentional under-reporting, and indiscriminant “false” responding
S
Superlative Self-Presentation
Designed to identify under-reporting
This is for the people who tend to present themselves as highly virtuous and free of psychological problems
Nondefensive with significant psychopathology
This could reflect patient being overwhelmed, over- vulnerability, defenses are not working. Could also be a suicide indication for adolescents
Random Responding
F, FB, and FP usually greater than 100.
K and S near 50
L is 60-70
Fake Bad profile
Characterized by a very elevated F-scale T-score (usually well above 100).
Also the Fp and FB scales are elevated (usually at the same level as the F-scale)
L and K are low
Cry for Help Profile
L and K are lower than F
Fake Good Profile
L and K have T-scores > 65
L and K are greater than F (which is usually around 40-50)
What is K correction, when is it used and on what clinical scales?
A K-correction is designed to detect unintentional under-reporting.
You must be careful using K-corrections in settings where defensiveness is common (pre-employment, custody hearings) so not to over-pathologize test-takers
What do the clinical scales measure?
The clinical scales are objectively derived, scored, and interpreted scales, that are associates with well-established symptoms and behaviors.
Elevation on these scales or patterns of scales provides:
1. Descriptive information related to personality and symptoms
2. Hypotheses about personality, diagnosis, and prognosis
Scale 1
(Hs) – Hypochondriasis: somatic concerns, lacking energy, dissatisfaction, sleep disturbance, demanding, complaining [at risk for somatic delusions`
Scale 2
(D) – Depression: lack of hope, dissatisfaction with life, poor morale, worry, decreased concentration, withdrawal, somatic complaints, decreased self-esteem [at risk for clinical depression]
Scale 3
(Hy) – Hysteria: somatic symptoms, sleep disturbance, lower insight, denial, immature, self-centered, demanding, suggestive [at risk for conversion disorder]
Scale 4
(Pd) – Psychopthic Deviate: rebellious, non-conforming, family problems, angry, irritable, superficial relationships, impulsive, delinquent, negative view of authority [at risk for antisocial pd]
Scale 5
(Mf) – Masculinity/Femininity: lacking traditional M/F interests – work and recreation, worries/fears/sensitivity, family relationships [at risk for sexual problems]
Scale 6
(Pa) – Paranoia: ideas of reference sensitivity, feelings of persecution, anger and resentfulness, rigidity, guardedness, withdrawal, suspicion [at risk for paranoid psychosis]
Scale 7
(Pt) – Psychasthenia: anxiety and depression, decreased self-confidence, doubt, unreasonable fears, feeling unaccepted, indecisiveness, distress and unhappiness [at risk for extreme fear/intrusions]
Scale 8
(Sc) – Schizophrenia: schizoid lifestyle, confusion, fearfulness, aloofness, fantasies, psychosis, thought/mood disturbances, social alienation and estrangement, dissatisfaction, decreased concentration [at risk for schizophrenia]
Scale 9
(Ma) – Hypomania: increased energy, elevated mood, increased speech and motor activity, irritability, impulsivity, decreased frustration tolerance, conceptual disorganization [at risk for bipolar disorder]
Scale 0
(Si) – Social Isolation: shyness/timidness, decreased self-confidence, submissiveness, reliability, decreased interest, over-controlled, maladjusted [at risk for social phobia}
High K
defensiveness
Low K
Cry for Help (be wary of malingering or secondary gain)
Why are some scales K-corrected?
Some scales are K-corrected because test-takers may be invested in looking healthier than they really are. A defensive person is less likely to recognize the purpose of these subtle items so they will not try to avoid detection.
Although an elevation of the K scale could indicate defensiveness, it could also indicate psychological awareness and well-being, so K-corrected scales should be interpreted with caution
