Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPI/MMPI-2, MMPI-A) and Suicide. (from the chapter) "Of the standard psychological tests, only the Rorschach and the MMPI have potential as predictors of suicidal behavior but, as yet, this potential is unrealized" (Lester, 1970a, p. 1). More than three decades later, this potential continues to be unrealized. The MMPI-2 (Butcher et al., 2001) and its corresponding adolescent version, the MMPI-A (Butcher et al., 1992), are the most widely used objective personality assessment measures in the world (Archer, Maruish, Imhof, & Piotrowski, 1991; Archer & Newsom, 2000; Friedman, Lewak, Nichols, & Webb, 2001). The original form of the MMPI (Hathaway & McKinley, 1942) was subjected to considerable research efforts to identify items, scales, or profile configurations that could reliably differentiate between suicidal and nonsuicidal individuals. However, no reliable markers of suicidal behavior were identified (Eyman & Eyman, 1992). What practical use do the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A have in the assessment of suicidal potential if they are unable to reliably predict eventual suicide? Why is it difficult to identify items or scales that reliably predict suicide? These are two important questions addressed in this chapter. We present an overview of the difficulties inherent in using a personality measure to predict suicide, followed by a review of the extensive MMPI empirical literature that was targeted toward that objective. Next, we provide information on new items that were included on the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A that are of potential use in the assessment of suicide, followed by a review of the extant literature on suicide assessment with the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A. We offer some recommendations about the use of the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A in the assessment of suicide and suicide potential. Finally, we close with a case presentation on the MMPI-A. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2007 APA, all rights reserved) https://www.upress.umn.edu/test-division/bibliography/2000-2009/2005/friedman_minnesota_2005 https://www.upress.umn.edu/logo.png

Alan F Friedman, Robert P Archer, and Richard W Handel (2005)

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPI/MMPI-2, MMPI-A) and Suicide.

Miscellaneous publication.

Keywords

Adolescent
adolescents
Adults
APA
assessment measures
Behavior
Behavioral science
Case presentation
effort
Empirical literature
IF
items
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
MMPI
MMPI 2
MMPI A
MMPI-2
MMPI-A
Objective personality assessment
Personality
Prevention
Profile
Research
Rorschach
School
Suicidal
Suicidality
Suicide
Test
Treatment
University
VA

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Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories (MMPI/MMPI-2, MMPI-A) and Suicide.