Before a clinician even looks at clinical scores, they examine the validity scales. These determine whether the test is interpretable.
A valid MMPI-2 profile requires that validity scales fall within normal ranges. If not, the clinical scales are considered uninterpretable.
The heart of the MMPI-2 lies in the 10 Clinical Scales, numbered 1 through 0 (Zero). These were originally developed by finding items that psychiatric patients endorsed more often than the normal group. mmpi-2
Why has the MMPI-2 endured for over three decades?
You might think that if you score high on Scale 8, you are schizophrenic. This is incorrect. The MMPI-2 is not a simple "elevation = diagnosis" tool. Clinical interpretation is a complex psychometric art. Before a clinician even looks at clinical scores,
Interpretation relies on Code Types. For example, a "2-7" code type (elevated Depression and Psychasthenia) is called the "Anxious Depression" pattern. A "4-9" code type is associated with acting out and impulsivity.
Furthermore, clinicians use the Harris-Lingoes subscales and Content Scales to understand why a scale is elevated. For example, two people with high Scale 2 (Depression) might be different: one suffers from low self-esteem, the other from physical lethargy. A valid MMPI-2 profile requires that validity scales
While Title VII of the Civil Rights Act generally prohibits using psych tests for most jobs, exceptions exist for "public safety." The MMPI-2 is routinely used for: