Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) – Comprehensive Guide

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a psychometric test that is used in psychological assessment and diagnosis.

The MMPI assessment is designed to recognize and diagnose mental health disorders. As the term suggests, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was named after the state it was created in. 

It was designed in 1937 by a clinical psychologist and a neuropsychiatrist at the University of Minnesota. Over the years, the MMPI has been revised and iterated several times to improve its accuracy and validity.

Today, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is one of the most frequently used and well-researched tools used in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.

What Is the MMPI Test? 

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is a self-report test, so individuals complete the assessment for it to be evaluated by mental health professionals.

Your answers give an indication of whether you have symptoms of mental illness or personality disorder.

The questions on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory are designed to find out where you place on 10 different mental health scales.

Each scale relates to a different psychological disorder or pattern of traits, with overlap between them. It is generally understood that scoring highly on the MMPI may indicate a mental health condition.

History and Development of the MMPI Test

Created in 1937 and published in 1943, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory has been updated several times to try and eliminate gender and racial bias.

The current version is MMPI-2, which is used in over 40 countries. There is also a MMPI-3 test. 

There is another version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for adults, called the MMPI-2-RF.

This restructured form was developed to further improve the test’s validity and reliability. With additional MMPI scales and revised items, it is better at assessing contemporary mental disorders.

Structure of the MMPI Test

The MMPI-2 test consists of true-false questions about yourself. As a self-report inventory, its range of questions evaluate how you feel about taking the test, whether you are answering genuinely, and whether you are under- or over-reporting to try and skew the MMPI assessment results.

On the MMPI-2 long form, there are 567 questions, while the short form is made up of 370 questions.

The questions gather an insight into your personality by asking about things such as hobbies and pastimes, your attitude, and your feelings towards your life.

MMPI Assessment Scales and Subscales

There are 10 clinical scales on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. They each evaluate a different aspect of mental health and personality.

Some of the most common are:

1. Hypochondriasis: Whether you have an unhealthy worry for your health.
2. Depression: How satisfied you are with your life.
3. Psychopathic deviate: Measures antisocial behaviors and attitudes.
4. Paranoia: Evaluates symptoms associated with psychosis, such as extreme suspicion and delusions of grandeur.
5. Schizophrenia: Assesses whether you have, or are likely to experience, a schizophrenia disorder.

The other five MMPI scales are hysteria, masculinity/femininity, psychasthenia, hypomania, and social introversion.

The MMPI validity scales help the test administrators understand how genuine an individual’s answers are.

For example, scoring highly on the “L” or lie scale indicates that a Minnesota personality test taker has not answered genuinely to avoid acknowledging certain traits or behaviors.

Conversely, people who score highly on the “F” scale may be trying to portray themselves in a worse condition than they are. A high score on this scale could indicate patterns of psychopathology.

MMPI Example Questions

Hypochondriasis (Hs)

I often worry about my health and think I might have serious illnesses.

a) True
b) False

This question measures the respondent's level of concern about health and bodily functions, typical of the Hypochondriasis scale.

Depression (D)

I frequently feel down and have little interest in things I used to enjoy.

a) True
b) False

This statement assesses the respondent's experience of depressive symptoms.

Hysteria (Hy)

When I am under stress, I sometimes experience physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches.

a) True
b) False

This question is designed to measure somatic responses to stress, typical of the Hysteria scale.

Psychopathic Deviate (Pd)

I have a tendency to break rules and not conform to social norms.

a) True
b) False

This statement evaluates tendencies towards antisocial behavior and rule-breaking.

Masculinity-Femininity (Mf)

I enjoy activities that are traditionally associated with the opposite gender.

a) True
b) False

This question assesses the respondent's identification with traditional gender roles and interests.

Paranoia (Pa)

I often feel that others are out to get me or talking about me behind my back.

a) True
b) False

This item is designed to measure paranoid thoughts and feelings of persecution.

Psychasthenia (Pt)

I frequently find myself obsessing over certain thoughts and unable to get them out of my mind.

a) True
b) False

This question targets symptoms of obsessive-compulsive tendencies and anxiety.

Schizophrenia (Sc)

Sometimes I feel disconnected from reality or think I hear voices that others do not.

a) True
b) False

This item assesses experiences of perceptual distortions or hallucinations.

Hypomania (Ma)

I often feel unusually energetic and have racing thoughts, even when I haven't had much sleep.

a) True
b) False

This statement is designed to measure symptoms of hypomania, such as increased energy and activity levels.

Social Introversion (Si)

I prefer spending time alone rather than with others.

a) True
b) False

This question assesses the respondent's level of introversion and preference for solitude.

Administration of the MMPI Assessment

There are a number of reasons why clinicians might administer the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. It is most used to diagnose mental health conditions but can also play a part in therapeutic assessments or legal proceedings.

The Minnesota personality test may also be used to screen candidates applying for jobs in law enforcement.

As it is such an important test, the MMPI can only be administered by psychologists who have been extensively trained in the inventory.

What’s more, the MMPI is copyrighted by the institution it was created in, the University of Minnesota. This means that clinicians must pay to administer the MMPI test.

Consisting of 567 items, the MMPI-2 test takes between 60 and 90 minutes to complete.

Scoring and MMPI Interpretation

After an individual has taken the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test, their responses will be transcribed into an interpretative report.

The test-takers scores will be converted into normalized T-scores that range from 30 to 120. The normal range is a score of 50 to 65, with anything outside of this range noted as clinically significant.

If an individual scores highly on a certain scale, the clinician can deduce that they may be experiencing ill mental health. Whichever of the 10 scales a test-taker places on, there are a range of treatment options to support their wellbeing.

Understanding MMPI Assessment Scores

Results from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory are interpreted as T-scores. A T-score is commonly used in psychometric assessments and allows for a more meaningful reading of data.

Using T-scores allow clinicians administering the tests to measure how much each individual differs from the average test-taker.

Generally speaking, a T-score above 75 on any scale indicates a very high ranking and is likely to place a test-taker in the top 1% of the population sample.

Interpreting the Scores

To interpret your score, your clinician will follow a series of steps. With the MMPI being a diagnostic tool, it is extremely important that the results are interpreted by a trained and qualified psychiatrist.

Individuals are discouraged from attempting to interpret their own scores as doing so requires a professional knowledge of mental health.

An expert in psychology will interpret your results by:

1. Identifying your T-score from your test results
2. Looking at your T-score on the normal distribution. An average score is defined as between 40 and 60. Scores with clinical significance are usually below 30 and over 70.
3. Comparing your T-score to the average. This is different for males and females.
4. Analyzing how your score ranks on the clinical scales.

How to Prepare for the MMPI Test

If you have been asked to take a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test, try not to worry. This typically means that you have sought help for the way you are feeling, which is a fantastic first step.

The MMPI personality test is not the kind of test you can, or should try to, practice for. It is important to be honest in your responses.

For this reason, you will not find a reliable MMPI test online. The tool is protected and can only be provided by a mental health professional.

By being true to yourself you will be given accurate results that will help improve your mental wellbeing.

Though it might seem daunting, it is in your best interests to receive a diagnosis if your symptoms suggest you are living with a mental disorder. By answering genuinely, you can begin a treatment plan and get the support you need and deserve.

To prepare for taking the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test, consider the following:

• Be honest: This is crucial as underplaying or exaggerating your responses can misconstrue your scores. A particularly low or high result is typically indicative of a mental disorder, so remaining genuine will provide you with the most accurate results.
  
• Don’t overthink your answers: The only possible responses are true or false, so aim to provide the first answer that comes into your head. Try not to take too long as it will leave you less time to complete the test and may mean your answers are considered deceptive.
  
• Be consistent: Make sure you carefully read the question and understand what it is asking you.

Practice Resources

If you do want to familiarize yourself with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test format and question styles, there are MMPI-2 test online resources available.

You can find comprehensive guides to the MMPI on Very Well Mind, Psych Test, Healthline, and Psych Central.

These guides provide a wealth of information on the history, uses and accuracy of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test.

Applications of the MMPI

Clinical Use

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test is widely used in clinical settings for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment planning. It assesses personality traits and various forms of psychopathology.

With versions for adults and adolescents, the MMPI is used with other tools to diagnose mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoia, and schizophrenia.

The test is administered by clinical professionals, who have to pay the University of Minnesota to be able to use it. An individual’s results can be used to create a treatment plan that may include medication, therapy, or lifestyle changes.

Other Applications

As well as being used in clinical settings, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory test also has a place in the areas of forensic assessments, employment screenings, legal proceedings, and research.

The test can provide an indication into the mental wellbeing of an individual and whether they can hold certain roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the MMPI test?

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is a psychometric test that is used in psychological assessment and diagnosis. 

What does the MMPI test for?

It tests for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, OCD, and schizophrenia.

Why is the MMPI test not online?

You will not find a reliable MMPI test online, as it is a protected tool that can only be administered by clinical professionals. 

How to pass the MMPI test?

The score you get on the MMPI test depends on the answers you give. You should answer honestly and not try to think about “passing”.

How many questions are on the MMPI test?

There are 567 questions on the long form test and 370 questions on the short test.

Should you prepare for the MMPI test? 

The MMPI test is designed to assess personality traits and psychological conditions accurately. However sample questions can help you get familiar with the structure of the test. Always answer honestly.

Final Thoughts

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) psychometric test is regarded as a valuable tool in the diagnosis of mental health disorders.

If you are taking the test, it is important to remain calm and answer honestly.