An empirically based measure of adolescent psychopathology, the MMPI-A test contains adolescent-specific scales, and other unique features designed to make the instrument especially appropriate for today’s youth. Offering reports tailored to particular settings, the MMPI-A test helps provide relevant information to aid in problem identification, diagnosis, and treatment planning for youth (ages 14–18).
How to Use This Test
School, clinical, and counseling psychologists can use this self-report inventory to help:
- Support diagnosis and treatment planning in a variety of settings.
- Identify the root causes of potential problems early on.
- Provide easy-to-understand information to share with parents, teachers, and others in the adolescent’s support network.
- Guide professionals in making appropriate referrals.
Key Features
- Item content and language are relevant for adolescents.
- At the psychologist’s discretion, the clinical scales and three of the validity scales can be scored from the first 350 items, a significant savings in administration time.
- Norms are adolescent-specific.
- Scales help address problems clinicians are more likely to see with adolescents, including family issues, eating disorders, and chemical dependency.
Quick Facts
| Publisher Statement | The University of Minnesota Press is the publisher of the MMPI® instruments, representing the Regents of the University of Minnesota which hold copyright on the instruments. As publisher, the Press, working with its consulting board, is responsible for the substantive development of the tests, including any revisions to them. The University exclusively licenses Pearson to produce, market, and sell the MMPI test products and to offer scoring and interpretive services. |
| Administer To | Individuals 14–18 years old |
| Reading Level | 4.9 grade (Lexile average), 4.4 grade (Flesch-Kincaid) |
| Completion Time | 45–60 minutes (478 true/false items) |
| Formats | Paper-and-pencil, CD, or computer administration |
| Report Options | Interpretive Report
Extended Score Report
Basic Service Report |
| Scoring Options | Q™ Local Software
Mail-in Scoring Service
Hand Scoring
|
| Scales | 7 Validity Scales
10 Clinical Scales*
31 Clinical Subscales
15 Content Scales
31 Content Component Subscales
11 Supplementary Scales
Various Special Indices* |
| Norms | National community sample |
*Included in all reports
About the Authors
Manual Authors
James N. Butcher, PhD, Carolyn L. Williams, PhD, John R. Graham, PhD, Robert P. Archer, PhD, Auke Tellegen, PhD, Yossef S. Ben-Porath, PhD, & Beverly Kaemmer, Coordinator for the University of Minnesota Press
MMPI-A Minnesota Report Authors
James N. Butcher, PhD
James N. Butcher, PhD is professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Butcher received his graduate training at the University of North Carolina and served on the faculty of the University of Minnesota for over 40 years. He has written more than 50 books and 175 articles on the MMPI, MMPI-2, and MMPI-A, including Essentials of MMPI-2 and MMPI-A Interpretation (with Dr. Carolyn Williams), published in 2000 by the University of Minnesota Press. He was instrumental in identifying the need for a revision of the MMPI, which resulted in the MMPI Restandardization Project conducted during the 1980s and 1990s. More recently, Dr. Butcher co-authored two books published by the American Psychological Association: Assessing Hispanic Clients Using the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A (with Jose Cabiya, Emilia Lucio, and Maria Garrido, 2007) and the third edition of The MMPI/MMPI-2/MMPI-A in Court (with Ken Pope and Joyce Seelen, 2006). Butcher and 25 colleagues from around the world used the Adolescent Interpretive System of the Minnesota Report to develop International Case Studies on the MMPI-A: An Objective Approach. This casebook illustrates the use of the Minnesota Report with adolescents in 15 countries outside the United States.
Carolyn L. Williams, PhD
Carolyn L. Williams, PhD is a professor emeritus of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota, where she has been on the faculty of the School of Public Health for 27 years. She received her doctorate from the University of Georgia in clinical psychology and child and family development. She was the lead researcher for a major clinical study on the use of the original MMPI with adolescents, which established the validity of the Clinical Scales in multiple adolescent treatment settings. This study provided a rich source of descriptors for the MMPI-A scales and led to the development of the MMPI-A Content Scales, published as a monograph (MMPI-A Content Scales: Assessing Psychopathology in Adolescents, 1992) by the University of Minnesota Press (with James Butcher, Yossef Ben-Porath, and John Graham). She co-developed the MMPI-A Alcohol/Drug Problem Acknowledgment (ACK) scale and the Alcohol/Drug Problem Proneness (PRO) scales with Nathan Weed and James Butcher, the Content Component Scales with Nancy Sherwood and Yossef Ben-Porath, and the PSY-5 Scales with John McNulty, Al Harkness, and Yossef Ben-Porath. She is also a co-author of the MMPI-2 Content Scales. Most recently, she used several MMPI-A Content Scales and the ACK and PRO scales in longitudinal outcome studies on the prevention of alcohol and other drug problems in public schools in rural settings and in schools in Moscow, Russia.
Yossef S. Ben-Porath, PhD
Yossef S. Ben-Porath, PhD is a Professor of Psychology at Kent State University. He received his doctoral training at the University of Minnesota and has been involved extensively in MMPI-2 research for the past 23 years. He is a co-author of test manuals and numerous books, book chapters, and articles on the MMPI-2 test. Dr. Ben-Porath is a co-developer of several MMPI-2 scales including VRIN, TRIN, and FP, the Content Scales, the PSY-5 Scales, and the Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales. He is editor of the journal Assessment, and a member of the editorial board of the other major assessment journals. His clinical practice involves consultation to agencies regarding use of the MMPI-2 test in personnel screening, and in conducting criminal court-ordered forensic psychological evaluations.
Auke Tellegen, PhD
Auke Tellegen, PhD received a PhD in personality psychology from the University of Minnesota in 1962 and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in clinical psychology at the University of Minnesota Medical School in 1963. He is Professor Emeritus in the department of psychology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Tellegen has published on the assessment of mood, personality, hypnotic responsiveness, and psychopathology. He is co-author of the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A tests and author of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales. He also is the author of the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ), a broadband personality inventory.
Robert P. Archer, PhD, ABPP
Robert P. Archer, PhD, ABPP is the Frank Harrell Redwood Distinguished Professor and Director of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. Archer is the author of numerous books, articles and book chapters related to psychological assessment. He is also author of the texts, Using the MMPI with Adolescents, and MMPI-A: Assessing Adolescent Psychopathology (3rd edition) (Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1987; 2005), and Forensic Uses of Clinical Assessment Instruments (2006), and co-author of the MMPI-A Casebook (PAR, 1994). Dr. Archer served on the advisory committee to the University of Minnesota Press for the development of the MMPI-A and is a co-author of the MMPI-A manual. He is currently working on a series of research projects related to the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A. Dr. Archer served as the Founding Editor of Assessment, a quarterly journal that began publication in March 1994, and was an Associate Editor for the Journal of Personality Assessment. He is an Executive Board member and Diplomate of the American Board of Assessment Psychology.
John R. Graham, PhD
John R. Graham, PhD is Professor of Psychology at Kent State University. He is one of the authors of the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A. He has been a substantial contributor to the MMPI research literature and is author of a widely used text, MMPI-2: Assessing Personality and Psychopathology, published by Oxford University Press. In addition to his University responsibilities, he consults with attorneys concerning the use of the MMPI-2 in forensic settings. He has offered MMPI workshops nationally and internationally.
Scales
Validity Scales
(Extended Score Report and The Minnesota Report,
selected scales available in Basic Service Report*)
? - Cannot Say (reported as a raw score)*
VRIN - Variable Response Inconsistency
TRIN - True Response Inconsistency
F1 - Infrequency 1*
F2 - Infrequency 2
F - Infrequency
L - Lie*
K - Correction*
Clinical Scales
(All Reports)
1 (Hs) Hypochondriasis
2 (D) Depression
3 (Hy) Hysteria
4 (Pd) Psychopathic Deviate
5 (Mf) Masculinity–Femininity
6 (Pa) Paranoia
7 (Pt) Psychasthenia
8 (Sc) Schizophrenia
9 (Ma) Hypomania
0 (Si) Social Introversion
Clinical Subscales — Harris-Lingoes and Social Introversion Subscales
(Extended Score Report and The Minnesota Report)
Harris-Lingoes Subscales
D1 - Subjective Depression
D2 - Psychomotor Retardation
D3 - Physical Malfunctioning
D4 - Mental Dullness
D5 - Brooding
Hy1 - Denial of Social Anxiety
Hy2 - Need for Affection
Hy3 - Lassitude–Malaise
Hy4 - Somatic Complaints
Hy5 - Inhibition of Aggression
Pd1 - Familial Discord
Pd2 - Authority Problems
Pd3 - Social Imperturbability
Pd4 - Social Alienation
Pd5 - Self-Alienation
Pa1 - Persecutory Ideas
Pa2 - Poignancy
Pa3 - Naiveté
Sc1 - Social Alienation
Sc2 - Emotional Alienation
Sc3 - Lack of Ego Mastery, Cognitive
Sc4 - Lack of Ego Mastery, Conative
Sc5 - Lack of Ego Mastery, Defective Inhibition
Sc6 - Bizarre Sensory Experiences
Ma1 - Amorality
Ma2 - Psychomotor Acceleration
Ma3 - Imperturbability
Ma4 - Ego Inflation
Social Introversion SubScales
Si1 - Shyness/Self-Consciousness
Si2 - Social Avoidance
Si3 - Alienation–Self and Others
Content Scales
(Extended Score Report and The Minnesota Report)
A-anx - Anxiety
A-obs - Obsessiveness
A-dep - Depression
A-hea - Health Concerns
A-aln - Alienation
A-biz - Bizarre Mentation
A-ang - Anger
A-cyn - Cynicism
A-con - Conduct Problems
A-lse - Low Self-Esteem
A-las - Low Aspiration
A-sod - Social Discomfort
A-fam - Family Problems
A-sch - School Problems
A-trt - Negative Treatment Indicators
Content Component Scales
(Extended Score Report and The Minnesota Report)
A-dep1 - Dysphoria
A-dep2 - Self-Depreciation
A-dep3 - Lack of Drive
A-dep4 - Suicidal Ideation
A-hea1 - Gastrointestinal Complaints
A-hea2 - Neurological Symptoms
A-hea3 - General Health Concerns
A-aln1 - Misunderstood
A-aln2 - Social Isolation
A-aln3 - Interpersonal Skepticism
A-biz1 - Psychotic Symptomatology
A-biz2 - Paranoid Ideation
A-ang1 - Explosive Behavior
A-ang2 - Irritability
A-cyn1 - Misanthropic Beliefs
A-cyn2 - Interpersonal Suspiciousness
A-con1 - Acting-Out Behaviors
A-con2 - Antisocial Behaviors
A-con3 - Negative Peer Group Influences
A-lse1 - Self-Doubt
A-lse2 - Interpersonal Submissiveness
A-las1 - Low Achievement Orientation
A-las2 - Lack of Initiative
A-sod1 - Introversion
A-sod2 - Shyness
A-fam1 - Familial Discord
A-fam2 - Familial Alienation
A-sch1 - School Conduct Problems
A-sch2 - Negative Attitudes
A-trt1 - Low Motivation
A-trt2 - Inabilitiy to Disclose
Supplementary Scales
(Extended Score Report and The Minnesota Report)
MAC-R - MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale–Revised
ACK - Alcohol/Drug Problem Acknowledgment
PRO - Alcohol/Drug Problem Proneness
IMM - Immaturity
A - Anxiety
R - Repression
PSY-5 (Personality Psychopathology Five) Scales
AGGR - Aggressiveness
PSYC - Psychoticism
DISC - Disconstraint
NEGE - Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism
INTR - Introversion/Low Positive Emotionality
Special Indices
(All Reports)
Welsh Code
Percent True and False
Response Percentages
Norms
The normative sample of the MMPI-A test consists of 805 adolescent males and 815 adolescent females from eight communities in the U.S. The sites were chosen to maximize the probability of obtaining a balanced sample of subjects according to geographic region, rural/urban residence, and ethnic background.
Report Options
Interpretive Report
This comprehensive report helps provide an objective psychological picture of the adolescent through scale scores, special indices, and narrative statements.
Based on extensive experience in MMPI and MMPI-2 research and clinical practice, authors James N. Butcher, PhD, and Carolyn L. Williams, PhD, provide information on the following:
- Symptomatic Behavior
- Interpersonal Relationships
- Behavioral Stability
- Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations
- A list of omitted items and suggested items for follow-up
Specialized reports are available for the following settings:
Extended Score Report
This report provides raw and T scores for all standard MMPI-A scales. Recently updated for 2006, the report now includes PSY-5 Scales, Content Component Subscales, and critical items.
View a sample Extended Score Report.
Basic Service Profile Report
This report provides a one-page profile of raw and T scores for three Validity Scales (L, F1, K) and the 10 Clinical Scales. This report is provided to facilitate an abbreviated administration of the MMPI-A test using the first 350 items.
View a sample Basic Service Profile Report.
Scoring Options
Q™ Local Software - Enables you to score assessments, report results, and store and export data on your computer.
Mail-in Scoring Service - Specially designed answer sheets are mailed to us for processing within 24–48 hours of receipt and returned via regular mail.
Hand Scoring - Administer assessments on answer sheets and score them yourself with answer keys and profile/record forms.
Common Questions and Answers
I am getting scores but no profile on an MMPI-A report for a 13-year-old. Is it valid?
The MMPI-A instrument was developed for young people between the ages of 14 and 18 (normative group). It may be appropriate to assess 13-year-olds if they are mature enough to answer the items meaningfully and if they read the requisite level. Because 13-year-olds were not included in the normative sample, the scores are shown but are not plotted in the Basic Service and Extended Score Reports. However, the scores are plotted on The Minnesota Report.
What are the demographic default values for an MMPI-A administration?
The Adolescent System Interpretive Report defaults to the following demographic if it is omitted: Setting: Outpatient.
Test Date, Birth Date, ID, and Gender must be filled in. The software will not print any type of report without this information. Age is calculated from the Test Date and Birth Date.
Where can I find information on the critical items for the MMPI-A test?
Additional information on the development of the standard set of critical items for the MMPI-A test can be found in A Critical Item Set for the MMPI-A and Supplement to the MMPI-A Manual (University of Minnesota Press). This test monograph and manual supplement are available from Pearson (product numbers 29430 and 25036). Critical items are included in the Minnesota Report and the Extended Score Report.
Is there a place in the MMPI-A manual that compares the MMPI, MMPI-2, and MMPI-A items?
Yes. In Appendix E, there is a list of similar items on the three assessments. A dash in the table indicates that the item is not on that particular assessment.
What is F1?
F is a validity scale measuring more bizarre responses (i.e., responses chosen by less than 10% of normal people). F1 is like F on the MMPI-2 test, and F2 is like FB on the MMPI-2 test. F is the average of those two (F1 and F2). For more information, see the MMPI-A manual.
Why does the TRIN scale have a "T" or an "F" plotted above the mean (50T) on the profile?
T is printed when the raw score is greater than 9, and F is printed when the raw score is less than or equal to 9. See the MMPI-A manual for more information about the TRIN scale.
What is the difference between the Depression scale in the Clinical Scales and the Depression scale in the Content Scales?
The Depression scale in the Clinical Scales is a heterogeneous measure of depression (it measures more than one facet of depression). This scale was developed on psychiatric patients with various forms of symptomatic depression. The Depression scale in the Clinical Scales measures discomfort and dissatisfaction with life, characterized by poor morale, lack of hope in the future, denial of happiness and self-worth, withdrawal, psychomotor retardation, and other facets of symptomatic depression.
The Depression scale in the Content Scales measures only one facet of depression, self-reported depressive thoughts.
What effect does age have on MMPI-A scores?
The MMPI-A instrument was developed for young people between the ages of 14 and 18 (normative group).
Clinicians administering the MMPI-A instrument to clients 12 or 13 years old should be aware that they are using the instrument with an age group that has a higher incidence of difficulty with the assessment and therefore they should be cautious in their interpretations. The MMPI-A instrument is probably developmentally inappropriate for children under 12.
Normative and clinical samples for both the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A instruments include 18-year-olds, so the clinician should make a case-by-case judgment about which assessment to use with 18-year-old clients. 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 with 18-year-olds who are in college, working, or living an otherwise independent adult lifestyle.
How do I enter an Abbreviated MMPI-A test in Q Local software?
To facilitate an Abbreviated MMPI-A test administration, all of the items needed to score the 10 Clinical Scales and 3 Validity Scales L, F1, and K appear within the first 350 items. If you choose to administer an Abbreviated test administration, it is recommended that you print a Basic Service Report. The Basic Service Report is a one-page profile of these 13 scales. All other reports contain scales with items that fall beyond 350 and are therefore incomplete with an Abbreviated test administration. To enter an Abbreviated MMPI-A test in Manual Entry, simply enter a “2” for “Abbreviated” under “Type” in the demographics. Enter the client’s responses to the first 350 items of the test only, then save and print. To administer an Abbreviated MMPI-A test in On-Screen Entry, choose “Abbreviated” in the administrator demographics when this option appears. The On-Screen administration will end after the first 350 items are administered.
Do clients need to respond to items beyond 350 to receive the MMPI-A Basic Service Report?
No. The Basic Service Report only provides information on 3 validity scales (L, F1, K) and the 10 clinical scales, which are located in the first 350 items. Items beyond 350 will not be considered for the basic profile.
What scales can be scored if only the first 350 items are administered?
Clinical, validity (L, F1, K), and clinical subscales (Harris-Lingoes and Si subscales).
If I have a client answer the first 350 items and choose to print an Extended Score Report, will I have scorable validity indicators (L, F1, K), clinical scales, and clinical subscales (Harris-Lingoes and Si subscales)?
Yes. These scales will be scorable, but any scales with items that fall beyond 350 will not be complete (e.g., more recent validity indicators, content scales, supplementary scales).
Where can I find information on the PSY-5 Scales and Content Component Scales for the MMPI-A test?
PSY-5 (Personality Psychopathology-Five) Scales and Content Component Scales were added to the MMPI-A Extended Score Report and hand-scoring materials in 2006 and to The Minnesota Report in 2007. A manual supplement is available that contains information on these newly released scales. This manual supplement is available from Pearson (product number 25036).