Question

In regards to the MMPI-2: What does it mean if a patient scores high (for example 70) on 'Scale 7'(Psychasthenia)? What are the clinical implications?

Answer 1

MMPI is a Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is a clinical tool which is used to diagnose various mental disorders . It came into late 1930 which is revised time to time to make it more efficient. So , MMPI - 2 is the revised version of MMPI which is more efficient and reliable than earlier one. It contains ten scales which determines the pshycological conditions of mental disorders.

Implications of scale 7 (pshycasthenia)

This scale determines the condition of mental disorders such depression , anxiety, fear ,obsessive compulsive disorder ,doubt and so on.

When a person scores high ,it means he should be worried because it means he is suffering from high depression ,anxiety ,insecurity, inferiority ,compulsion or lack of confidence. They have physical complaints and do not comperate in therapy . We can say that if patient scores high in MMPI- 2 scale is a state of worry for the patient.