Use of the MMPI-2 in the Treatment of Offenders

• NCJ Number: 195516
• Journal: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 46 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 308-318
• Author(s): Johnathan D. Forbey; Yossef S. Ben-Porath
• Date Published: June 2002
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special Issue: Psychological Testing in Forensic Settings. See NCJ-195514-15, and NCJ-195517-20 for additional articles.

Annotation

This article describes the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) and the various MMPI-2 Validity, Clinical, Content, and Supplementary scales and their use in the treatment planning and evaluation of offenders.

Abstract

To assist in the process of offender treatment planning and implementation, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is one of most frequently used and relied upon. The MMPI-2 was originally developed in 1943. Shortly after it’s development the approach to MMPI interpretation was modified to focus on an examination of the empirical correlates of the test’s clinical scales and code-types. The MMPI-2 has a number of validity scales designed to measure an individual’s approach to test taking and they include: Cannot Say (CNS), Infrequency (F), Lie (L), and Defensiveness (K). The MMPI-2 clinical scales’ empirical correlates can potentially aid in diagnostic formulation and provide useful information in the identification of possible treatment goals and resistances. There are also 10 clinical scales in the MMPI-2 and they include: (1) Hypochondriasis; (2) Depression; (3) Hysteria; (4) Psychopathic Deviate; (5) Masculinity-Femininity; (6) Paranoia; (7) Psychasthenia; (8) Schizophrenia; (9) Mania; and (10) Social Introversion. In addition to the standard clinical and validity scales, there are several additional MMPI-2 supplementary scales that offer valuable information to clinicians in identifying treatment goals and potential threats to the therapeutic process: Negative Treatment Indicators Content Scale, Addiction Acknowledgement Scale (AAS), Addiction Potential Scale (APS), MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised (MAC-R), and the Ego Strength (Es). The MMPI-2 can be used in a variety of ways to assist the process of offender treatment planning and implementation. As part of the treatment intake process, it assists in identifying potential needs and targets for treatment. Many of the scales can be used to identify the presence of resistances to treatment and the administration of the MMPI-2 can serve to track and document progress toward meeting treatment goals when working with offender populations. References