MMPI-2 and CPI assessment instruments comparison

Psychology

MMPI-2 and CPI

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was developed in the late 1930's at the University of Minnesota, by a psychologist named Starke R. Hathaway and a psychiatrist named J.C. McKinley. It is the often used as a clinical testing instrument and is one of the most researched psychological tests in existence. The MMPI is not a perfect test, but it continues to be a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness (Van Wagner, 2009)

The MMPI-2 is most frequently used by mental health professionals to assess and diagnose mental illness. The MMPI-2 has been used in other fields outside of clinical psychology. The test is sometimes used in legal cases, including criminal defense and custody disputes. The test has been used as screening instrument for certain professions, especially those with high risk jobs. The use of the MMPI in this manner has been controversial over the years. The test is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment programs, including substance abuse programs (Van Wagner, 2009)

The MMPI-2 is made up of 567 test items and takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete. The MMPI is usually administered, scored, and interpreted by a professional, usually a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, who has specific training in its use. The MMPI is often used in collaboration with other assessment tools. It is thought that diagnosis should never be made solely on the results of an MMPI test. The MMPI-2 is either administered individually or in groups and a computerized version is available. The test is designed for individual's who are age 18 and older. The test can be scored by hand or by computer, but results should always be interpreted by a qualified mental health professional that has had extensive training in MMPI-2 interpretation (Van Wagner, 2009)

The California Psychological Inventory Test is designed to evaluate interpersonal behavior and social interaction in normal individuals. Each scale is intended to forecast what a person will say or do under defined conditions, and to identify individuals who will be described in characteristic ways by others who know them well or who observe their behavior in particular contexts. The scales are set up for convenience into four broad categories, bringing together those having related implications. The underlying logic of the categories is interpretational, not factorial. The four categories are not necessarily intended to constitute psychometric entities (California Psychological Inventory Scales, 2009).

The items on the inventory produce scores for 18 different scales, which are divided into four classes. These classes include: measures of poise, ascendancy, self-assurance and inter-personal adequacy; measures of socialization, responsibility, intra-personal values, and character; measures of achievement potential and intellectual efficiency; and measures of intellectual and interest modes (California Psychological Inventory Scales, 2009).