MMPI-2 Clinical Scale Correlates PDF

Preview

Summary

Summary of MMPI-2 Correlates...

Description

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates Scale 1 (Hypochondriasis) High scores (T >60) Extremely High Scores (T >80) Emotional Functioning Social Functioning

Cognitive Functioning 

May not show sign of major incapacity

 

  



Diagnostic Impressions:

Treatment Recommendations:

          

1

Personality Functioning

Have excessive bodily concern  Are not likely to act out in social  Seems selfish, self-centered, and Describe somatic complaints that ways. narcissistic generally are vague but if specific  Make others miserable  Complain a great deal may include chronic pain, headaches,  Are described as dull, unenthusiastic,  Communicate in a whiny manner and gastrointestinal discomfort and unambitious  Are demanding and critical of others May have problems associated with  Express hostility indirectly eating  Seem to have functioned at a reduced Complain of chronic weakness, lack level of efficiency for long periods of of energy, fatigue and sleep time disturbance  Lack ease in oral communication Are preoccupied with health problems and tend to develop physical symptoms in response to stress Have a pessimistic, defeatist, cynical outlook toward life Are unhappy and dissatisfied Frequently receive diagnoses of somatoform, pain, depressive, or anxiety disorders. May have somatic delusions (if T>80 and Scale 8 also is very high) May have conversion disorder (if T>80 and Scale 3 also is very high) May have somatic delusions (if T>80 and Scale 8 also is very high Often are given prescriptions for antidepressant or anxiolytic medications. Are not very good candidates for traditional psychotherapy or counseling May terminate treatment prematurely when therapists suggest psychological reasons for symptoms or are perceived as not giving enough attention and support. Lack insight and resist psychological interpretation Tend to become critical of therapists See themselves as physically ill and seek medical treatment

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates

2

Scale 2 (Depression) High scores (T >70) Cognitive Functioning Talk about committing suicide Have poor concentration Are very cautious and conventional and are not creative in problem solving Have difficulty making decisions

Emotional Functioning

Social Functioning

 

Feel depressed, sad, blue, unhappy, and dysphoric Feel hopeless and pessimistic about the future Feel insecure and lack self-confidence Have feelings of self-deprecation and guilt Experience anhedonia Lack energy, may refuse to speak, and show psychomotor retardation Report physical complaints, sleep disturbances, bad dreams, weakness, fatigue, and loss of energy Are agitated, tense, and fearful Are described as irritable, high-strung, and prone to worry and fretting Unhealthy patterns of eating May have a sense of dread that something bad is about to happen to them Have their feelings easily hurt Feel overwhelmed when faced with major life decisions Are over controlled and deny their own impulses Feel useless and unable to function

Diagnostic Impressions:

 

Often are given depressive diagnoses Display depressive symptoms (particularly if T>70)

Treatment Recommendations:

   

Because of personal distress, are likely to be motivated for psychotherapy or counseling If scores are very high, may have insufficient energy to engage actively in therapy Often are given antidepressant medications In clinical settings may be more likely than other patients to have made suicide attempts

  



            

    

Feel like failures at work or in school Have lifestyles characterized by withdraw and lack of involvement with other people Are aloof and maintain psychological distance from other people May feel that others do not care about them May withdraw from activities in which they previously participated in

Scale 3 (Hysteria)

Personality Functioning     

Do not have strong achievement motivation Act helpless and give up easily Are introverted, shy retiring, timid, seclusive, and secretive Avoid unpleasantness and make concessions to avoid confrontations Have restrictive range of interests

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates

3

High scores (T >80) Cognitive Functioning  

Lack insight concerning possible underlying causes of symptoms Are slow to gain insight into underlying causes of their behavior

Emotional Functioning        

Diagnostic Impressions: Treatment Recommendations:

Often feel overwhelmed React to stress and avoid responsibility by developing physical symptoms (especially if T >80) May report headaches, stomach discomfort, chest pains, weakness, or tachycardia Have symptoms that may appear and disappear suddenly Typically do not seem to be experiencing acute emotional turmoil May report feeling sad, depressed, and anxious at times Report lack of energy, feeling worn-out, and sleep disturbances Feel angry when they do not get enough attention and affection

Social Functioning   

Expect a great deal of attention and affection from others Do not express negative feelings openly or directly Tend to have superficial and immature interpersonal relationships

Personality Functioning      

Show little insight concerning their own motives and feelings Are self-centered, narcissistic, and egocentric Use indirect means to get attention and affection Are interested in others primarily because of what they can get from them May express naïve and Pollyannaish (being absurdly optimistic and goodhearted) beliefs about the world Often are described as psychologically immature, childish, and infantile



Frequently receives diagnosis of conversion disorder, somatoform disorder, or pain disorder

        

Often are given prescriptions for antidepressant and anxiolytic medications In clinical settings, tend to be more interpersonally involved than many patients Because of needs for acceptance and affection, may initially be quite enthusiastic about treatment View themselves as having medical problems and want medical treatment Are quite resistant to psychological interpretations May terminate treatment prematurely if therapists focus on psychological causes of symptoms May be willing to talk about problems as long as they are not connected to their physical symptoms Often respond quite well to direct advice and suggestion When involved in treatment, may discuss failure at work or school, marital unhappiness, lack of acceptance, or problems with authority figures

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates

4

Scale 4 (Psychopathic Deviate) Extremely High scores (T >75) Cognitive Functioning 

Show poor judgment and take risks

Emotional Functioning      

May act in aggressive ways, although women may do so in less direct ways May feign guilt and remorse when in trouble Are not seen as overwhelmed by emotional turmoil May admit feeling sad, fearful, and worried about the future Experience absence of deep emotional response May feel empty, bored, and depressed

Social Functioning           

Have difficulty incorporating the values and standards of society Are rebellious toward authority figures Have stormy relationships with families Blame family members for difficulties Tend to have marital problems Are insensitive to the needs and feelings of others Are interested in other sin terms of how they can be used Are likeable and create good first impressions Have shallow, superficial relationships Seem unable to form warm attachments with others Are judged by others to be intelligent and self –confident

Personality Functioning 

              

Diagnostic Impressions: Treatment Recommendations:

    

May engage in asocial and antisocial acts, including lying, cheating, stealing, sexual acting out, and excessive use of alcohol and/or other drugs Have histories of underachievement Are impulsive and strive for immediate gratification of impulses Do not plan their behavior well Tend to act without considering the consequences of their actions Are impatient and have limited frustration tolerance Show poor judgment and take risks Tend not to profit from experiences Are seen by others as immature and childish Are narcissistic, self-centered, selfish, and egocentric Are ostentatious and exhibitionistic Are extroverted and outgoing Are talkative, active, adventurous, energetic, and spontaneous Have wide range of interests, but behavior lacks clear direction Tend to be hostile, resentful, rebellious, antagonistic, and refractory Have sarcastic, cynical, and suspicious attitudes

In clinical settings are likely to receive diagnoses of antisocial or passive-aggressive personality disorder May agree to treatment to avoid something more unpleasant Have poor prognosis for psychotherapy or counseling Tend to terminate treatment prematurely In treatment tend to intellectualize excessively and to blame others for difficulties

Scale 5 (Masculinity-Femininity)

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates Cognitive Functioning

Emotional Functioning

Social Functioning

High 5 Men



T >= 65



High 5 Women



T >= 65



Low 5 Men



T < 45



Low 5 Women

   

Treatment Recommendations:

Personality Functioning

Lack of stereotypic masculine interests Are likely to participate in housekeeping and child rearing to a greater extent than many men



Have aesthetic and artistic interests

May be rejecting a very traditional female role Are likely to be interested in sports, hobbies, and other activities that are stereotypically more masculine than feminine



Are seen as assertive and competitive

Are presenting themselves as extremely masculine Tend to have stereotypically masculine preferences in work, hobbies and other activities

Have many stereotypically feminine  Are likely to derive satisfaction from interests their roles as spouses or mothers  May be traditionally feminine or more androgynous The result is that high T scores for both men and women are indicative of deviation from one’s own sex. Scores on Scale 5 do not seem to be related to symptoms or problems for nonclinical person (Long & Graham, 1991). Several studies have indicated that moderate Scale 5 elevations may actually be associated with more positive functioning (Graham, ben-Porath, &McNulty, 1999; Tanner, 1996). Relationships between Scale 5 scores and sexual aggression or other kinds of sexual problems are not established well enough to permit prediction of these problem behaviors in individual cases. 

T < 45

Diagnostic Impressions:

5



Originally was developed by Hathaway and McKinley to identify homosexuality in men (c., 1936).

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates Scale 6 (Paranoia) Extreme Elevation (T >70) Moderate Elevation (T = 60-70) Emotional Functioning Social Functioning

Cognitive Functioning Extreme Elevation  May have disturbed thinking, delusions of persecution or grandeur, and ideas of reference

6

Personality Functioning



Feel angry and resentful

 

Feel mistreated and picked on Harbor grudges



Utilize projection as a defense mechanism



May describe depression, sadness, withdrawal, and anxiety



Are seen by others as emotionally liable and moody In therapy reveal hostility and resentment toward family members



Tend to be excessively sensitive and overly responsive to the opinions of others Feel they are getting a raw deal out of life Tend to rationalize and blame others for difficulties Are suspicious and guarded Have hostility, resentment, and an argumentative manner Are moralistic and rigid in their opinions and attitudes Overemphasize rationality

(T >70) Moderate Elevation



(T = 60-70)

     

Diagnostic Impressions: Treatment Recommendations:

       

In clinical settings, often receive diagnoses of schizophrenia or paranoid disorder (Extreme) May exhibit frankly psychotic behavior If psychiatric patients, previous hospitalizations are common (Extreme) Have poor prognosis for psychotherapy (Moderate) Do not like to talk about emotional problems (Moderate) Rationalize excessively in therapy (Moderate) Have difficulty establishing rapport with a therapist (Moderate) Have paranoid orientation

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates Scale 7 (Psychasthenia) Very High T > 75 High T= 65-74 Emotional Functioning Social Functioning

Cognitive Functioning        

Report difficulty in concentration Are introspective May report fears that they are losing their minds Have obsessive thinking, compulsive and ritualistic behavior, and ruminations Lack ingenuity in their approach to problems Have difficulties making decisions Show some insight into their problems Rationalize and intellectualize excessively

7

        

Are experiencing psychological turmoil and discomfort Feel anxious, tense, and agitated Are worried, fearful, apprehensive, high-strung, and jumpy Often report feeling sad and unhappy Feel pessimistic about the future Report physical complaints centering on the heart, genitourinary system, or gastrointestinal system Complain of fatigue, exhaustion, and insomnia Feel insecure and inferior May feel depressed and guilty about falling short of goals

      

Lack self-confidence Are plagued by self-doubts Have high standards of performance for self and others Are seen by others as dull and formal Do not cope well with stress Are described as hard to get to know Are seen by others as sentimental, peaceable, soft-hearted, sensitive, and kind

Personality Functioning        

Are self-critical, self-conscious, and self-degrading Tend to be rigid and moralistic Are perfectionistic and conscientious Are neat organized and meticulous Are persistent and reliable Often distort importance of problems and overreact to stress Tend to be shy and do not interact well socially Worry about popularity and social acceptance

Diagnostic Impressions:



In clinical settings often are given anxiety disorder diagnosis

Treatment Recommendations:

      

May be motivated by treatment because of inner turmoil Are not responsive to brief therapy or counseling Are resistant to psychological interpretations in therapy May express hostility toward therapists Remain in treatment longer than most patients Make slow but steady progress in treatment In treatment discuss problems that may include difficulty with authority figures and poor work or study habits

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates Scale 8 (Schizophrenia) High scores (T >75) Emotional Functioning Social Functioning

Cognitive Functioning       

May be confused, disorganized, and disoriented May report unusual thoughts or attitudes and hallucinations Report bad dreams and problems with concentration May be creative and imaginative in approaching problems Have abstract and vague goals Seem to lack the basic information required for problem solving May show extremely poor judgement

        

May be in acute psychological turmoil Experience apprehension and generalized anxiety May feel sad, blue, or depressed May feel helpless and pessimistic about the future May report suicidal ideation Feel resentful, hostile and aggressive Often feels like failures Have vague and long standing physical complains Feel insecure, inferior, incompetent, and dissatisfied

    

Tend to have schizoid lifestyles Do not feel part of their social environment Feel alienated, misunderstood, and unaccepted by peers Often report having few or no friends Are plagued by selfdoubts

Personality Functioning             

Diagnostic Impressions: Treatment Recommendations:

        

8

May feel that they are getting a raw deal from life Are withdrawn, seclusive, secretive, and inaccessible Avoid dealing with people and new situations Are described by others as shy aloof, and uninvolved Are unable to express negative feelings directly Typically respond to stress by withdrawing into daydreams and fantasies May have difficulty separating reality and fantasy Give up easily when confronted with problem situations May have sexual preoccupation and sex role confusion Are nonconforming, unusual, unconventional, and eccentric May at times be stubborn, moody, and opinionated May at times be seen as generous, peaceable, and sentimental Are described as immature, impulsive, adventurous, sharp-witted, conscientious, and high-strung Have wide range of interest

 College students often obtain T scores in the range of 50-55 May require medical referral to evaluate the appropriateness of psychotropic medications Have a poor prognosis for psychotherapy because of the long-standing nature of their problems and inability to relate in a meaningful way to a therapist Tend to stay in treatment longer than most patients May eventually come to trust therapists In some cases may require the structured environment of an inpatient treatment program May benefit from focusing on specific and practical problems in therapy May have a psychotic disorder (especially if T >75) May be reporting unusual symptoms associated with drug abuse or medical problems such as epilepsy, stroke, or closed head injury

Scale 9 (Hypomania) Extreme Elevations (T >80)

The Clinical Scales: Summary of Descriptors/Correlates 

If T >80, may exhibit behavioral manifestations of manic episodes, including: a. Excessive, purposeless activity d. Delusions of grandeur b. Accelerated speech e. Emotional lability c. Hallucinations

Cognitive Functioning    

Prefer action to thought Have unrealistic self-appraisal May be creative, enterprising, and ingenious Engage in a great deal of intellectualization

f. Confusion g. Flight of Ideas

Emotional Functioning     

Have low frustration tolerance Have periodic episodes of irritability, hostility, and aggressive outbursts Beneath an outward picture of confidence and poise, harbor feelings of dissatisfaction May feel upset, tense, nervous, anxious, and agitated may experience periodic episodes of depression

Social Functioning   

    

Diagnostic Impressions: Treatment Recommendations:

9

Are characterized by unrealistic and unqualified optimism Have an exaggerated appraisal of self-worth Have a greater-thanaverage likelihood of abusing alcohol and other drugs May get into trouble with the law Create good first impressions Impress others as friendly, pleasant, enthusiastic, poised, and self-confident Have quite superficial relation...