Research has found that the MMPI D scale is related to the presence of mood disorders, and differentiates between depressed inpatients and normals Harris and Lingoes found several distinct subsets of item content (Note: subtests are only interpreted if the score on scale 2 is greater than or equal to 60, and the subscale’s scores is greater than or equal to 65). Items related to low mood, low self-esteem, lack of interest in things and feelings of apathy. See pg 65 for description of patient sample used for scale development Provides a measure of symptomatic depressionĬlinical picture assessed by this scale: poor morale, lack of hope in the future, dissatisfaction with life, and a low mood. See Table 4-1 (pg 66) for Interpretive Guidelines. High scorers have excessive bodily concerns, numerous vague somatic symptoms and undefined complaints are not viewed as very responsive to psychological therapy Hs has been widely researched and found to be related to excessive medical complaints, chronic pain, and extreme hypochondriacal concern (see pgs 63-63, and Fig. Scale 1 items are obvious and overlap with other neurotic scales (ie., scales 2, 3 and 7), particularly scale 3, which includes 20 Hs items. Items represent a broad range of physical symptoms (ie., general aches, pains, fatigue, stomach and breathing problems, sleep difficulties, dizziness, etc). McKinley and Hathaway defined hypochondriasis as: “Abnormal, psychoneurotic concern over bodily health”įor details on the patients used for scale development see pg. Should only be consulted if the T score on the parent scale (2,3,4,5,8, and 9) is at least moderately elevated (ie., ≥ 60) This strategy enables the interpreter to understand a particular scale elevation by evaluating a person’s response to specific item content.
Harris and Lingoes developed their content themes for scales 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 9 by rationally placing the items on the scale into similar content groups.
Interpretation of the standard scales is made easier by evaluating the relative contribution of the specific content subscales (Harris and Lingoes, 1955). Most of the MMPI-2 standard scales contain heterogeneous item content, which can make them difficult to interpret Hathaway and McKinley-included items that differentiated between a sample of “normal” subjects and a sample of patients In most cases, the MMPI standard scales were developed using an empirical-contrast method: Scale 0 (Social Introversion, Si) –low scores represent extroverted behaviour Low scores on most scales are not interpreted as having any particular meaning, except: 65 T score level corresponds to the 92nd percentile, and elevations past this score take on clinical meaningĪ T score of 60-64 is considered moderately elevated