MMPI-A (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Adolescent) - Essay Example

that used obsolete language or seemed awkward, ambiguous, or sexist were rewritten to improve face validity and to decrease perceived offensiveness (Butcher et al.,1992, n.p.). The test item pool was shortened, including 20 items which performed the same or better psychometrically as the original version (Williams, Ben-Porath, & Hevern, 1994). The result was an instrument containing 567 True or False items, and includes the same 13 scales of the MMPI and MMPI-2, as well as a few additional validity and content scales.

Sample items include, “My teachers have it in for me,” “My feelings are not easily hurt,” and “My parents often object to the kind of people I go around with” The items are spread over a variety of scales measuring different aspects of adolescent behavior and potential problem areas including family issues, eating disorders and chemical dependency. At the psychologists’ discretion, the clinical scales and three of the validity scales can be scored from the first 350 items. Its norms are adolescent-specific.

The MMPI-A is used by schools, clinical and counseling psychologists to help support the diagnosis and treatment planning of problematic adolescents in a variety of settings. It helps identify the root causes of potential problems at its onset. Aside from providing crucial information easily understood by parents, teachers and others in the adolescent’s support network, it likewise guides professionals in making appropriate referrals. Clinicians administering the MMPI-A with 12-13 year olds who have sixth grade reading level and seems to be mature enough for the test should do it with caution especially in the interpretation of the results.

Likewise, the clinician should be discerning when dealing with 18 year old respondents, as they are qualified for both the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A versions. A suggested guideline would be to use the MMPI-A instrument with 18-year-olds who are still in high school and the MMPI-2 instrument