Henry Montero, LMHC, CASAC-2, CTTS
Alquimedez Mental Health Counseling
1154 E. Tremont Ave Bronx, NY 10460-2452
Tel: 718-664-7679
www.alquimedez.com
Email: info@alquimedez.com
Twitter: @henmontero
Instagram: alquimedezmentalhealth
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was originally published in 1940 and an updated edition called the MMPI -2 was published in 1989. The MMPI-2 is imperative because it is the most commonly accepted psychometric test used for the measurement of adult psychopathology. The forensic analysis is used in cases where an individual’s mental health, medical state, and employment is concerned.
Important Factors
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was designed using an empirical test construction method. The process included using testing scales like a hypochondriasis scale to determine whether they have the issue or not.
Benefits of using MMPI-2 are that the questions asked to make it considerably difficult for participants not to provide proper answers. So, for example, if a candidate who is attempting the test is trying to fake his responses, this is made increasingly difficult because of the make-up of the test.
Secondly, as the examination is based on empirical evidence, which renders any clinical assumptions futile, therefore, the results are not based on preconceived personality traits. The data obtained are effective as they provide conclusive evidence of what is wrong with the patient in most cases.
Another advantage of the MMPI-2 is that even individuals who are employed in high-risk jobs like aircraft pilots and the police can undergo the examination and their psychological state can be determined.
The MMPI-2 is a licensed test that must be purchased before it can be used. As users must buy it before they move onto its administration and interpretation, this means that occupational health physicians and psychiatrists almost always use it.
Administration
In its entirety, the comprehensive dossier includes 567 test items each of which takes between 60 to 90 minutes to complete. The MMPI-2-RF contains 338 queries which take between 35 and 50 minutes to finish. Copyright is applicable on the test courtesy of the University of Minnesota, which is why it must be paid for.
Moreover, the scoring of the test should also be done by a professional. Like we mentioned earlier, a trained psychologist or psychiatrist should carry out the scoring. It is better if they have acquired the necessary training to use the MMPI before they begin.
Other aspects of the test are that the MMPI can be executed autonomously or conducted in groups as well. However, it must be noted that the test is designed for people aged 18 and over only.
Scales
In total, there are ten scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. These are Hypochondriasis, Depression, Hysteria, Psychopathic deviate, masculinity-femininity, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizophrenia, hypomania, and social introversion respectively.
These scales are used for validation and help in the assessment of the accuracy of the answers given by each. Since these tests are used to provide forensic evidence in matters like employment screenings and custody evaluations, candidates may try to lie on it and give made up answers. Therefore, the scales are imperative as they determine how accurate the test is and the extent to which the answers may be distorted.
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