5/7/2020 The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

History
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was developed in 1937 by
clinical psychologist Starke R. Hathaway and neuropsychiatrist J. Charnley McKinley at
the University of Minnesota. Today, it's the most frequently used clinical testing
instrument and is one of the most researched psychological tests in existence. While the
MMPI is not a perfect test, it remains a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of
mental illness.

Use
The MMPI is most commonly used by mental health professionals to assess and
diagnose mental illness, but it has been utilized in other elds outside of clinical
psychology. The MMPI-2 is often used in legal cases, including criminal defense and
custody disputes. The test has also been used as a screening instrument for certain
professions, especially high-risk jobs, although using it in this manner has been
controversial. It's also used to evaluate the e ectiveness of treatment programs,
including substance abuse programs.

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