ABSTRACT
The MMPI-A, used in conjunction with data from other psychometric tests, psychoso cial assessment results, and clinical interview findings, provides a rich source of information about a variety of respondent characteristics. MMPI-A findings include data on profile validity and the adolescent’s test-taking attitude. They also include data on the degree to which the adolescent’s responses were consistent and accurate, which serves to establish the technical validity of the responses. In addition, the MMPI-A profile provides information on the presence or absence of psychiatric symptoms along a number of dimensions of psychopathology as well as indicates the type, nature, and extent of symptomatology. Further, inspection of the adolescent’s MMPI-A results should allow for an overall estimate of the adolescent’s adjustment level and maturation. The MMPI-A will typically provide information on the adolescent’s characteristic defense mechanisms and the relative effectiveness of these mechanisms in protecting the adolescent from consciously perceived affective distress and ego threat. The test interpreter should be able to form an impression of the adolescent’s typical interpersonal relationships, including such issues as the need for dominance versus submissiveness and the tendency to be involved with others versus socially withdrawn and isolated.
