MMPI Short Forms: A Clinical Perspective

Abstract

Although numerous studies have compared Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) short-form scores with scores obtained from the standard MMPI, recent (1980) reports by Butcher, Kendall, and Hoffman and Newmark, Woody, Ziff, and Finch suggest that a substantial interest in such comparisons may remain. It is questionable, however, whether further studies of this nature are warranted. In fan, such studies have only limited clinical significance and may, at times, lead to inaccurate conclusions about available short forms. The purpose herein is to demonstrate the limited utility of research in which short forms are evaluated purely in terms of their prediction of standard form results. Further, a number of more clinically significant questions in regard to MMPI short forms are presented hopefully as a catalyst for future research.