MMPI Clinical Scales Restructured

The University of Minnesota Press and Pearson Assessments introduced in January a series of nine restructured clinical scales for the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The restructured scales are intended to be used to refine the interpretation of the existing clinical scales profile.

The new scales were developed by a team led by University of Minnesota consultant Auke Tellegen, Ph.D. Tellegen began the work shortly after the MMPI was restandardized in 1989 to become known as the MMPI-2.

“As a first step, I constructed a demoralization scale, extracting the general complaint or malaise factor represented to some degree in each of the clinical scales and in virtually all of the other MMPI-2 scales,” Tellegen said.

Then, analyzing the entire MMPI-2 item pool, Tellegen developed a set of scales that represent the following dimensions:

• Demoralization

• Somatic complaints

• Low positive emotions

• Cynicism

• Antisocial behavior

• Ideas of persecution

• Dysfunctional negative emotions

• Aberrant experiences

• Hypomanic activation

The team conducted extensive validation studies of the restructured scales with both outpatient and inpatient populations.

The restructured scales are composed of 183 items from the existing MMPI-2 item pool with no overlap between any of the scales. A new extended score report along with the existing validity/clinical scales profile will now be provided for computerized scoring, and hand-scoring of the personality inventory now includes a new profile form and answer keys.

Software users can request a free upgrade CD-ROM with the new Restructured Clinical Scales from Pearson Assessments. In addition, a publication by Tellegen and his team detailing the development, validation, and interpretation of the restructured scales is also available from Pearson Assessments.

More information on the MMPI-2 restructured clinical scales is posted on the Web at www.pearsonassessments.com/assessments/tests/mmpi2rcscales.htm. ▪