Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - Definition

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most frequently used test in the mental health fields. This assessment or test helps identify personal, social, and behavioral problems in psychiatric patients. This test helps provide relevant information to aid in problem identification, diagnosis, and treatment planning for the patient.

The MMPI has many uses including

• Criminal Justice and Corrections
• Evaluation of disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, clinical depression and schizophrenia
• Identification of suitable candidates for high-risk public safety positions such as nuclear power plant workers, police officers, airline pilots, medical and psychology students, firefighters and seminary students
• Assessment of medical patients and design of effective treatment strategies, including chronic pain management
• Evaluation of participants in substance abuse programs
• Support for college and career counseling
• Marriage and family counseling

The original authors of the MMPI were Starke R. Hathaway, PhD, and J. C. McKinley, MD. They were on the faculty of the University of Minnesota Hospitals when the MMPI instrument was first published in 1942.

The MMPI is copyrighted and clinicians must pay a fee each time it is administered.

Example Usage of Multiphasic