Reducing MMPI-defensiveness in professionals presenting for evaluation

Due to the possibility of negatively impacting their license to practice, professionals presenting for an intensive fitness for duty multidisciplinary evaluation might have a motivation to minimize emotional difficulties in a psychological evaluation. This study examines the incidence of "fake-good" Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) profiles in those being evaluated and changes in psychometric test scores when extremely defensive patients are asked to repeat the testing with specialized instructions. As part of the evaluation process, patients completed an MMPI-2, as well as other psychometric instruments. The validity of each MMPI-2 profile was evaluated. Patients who produced an invalid test profile due to hyperdefensiveness were provided feedback on their defensiveness and asked to be more open and honest in a repeat testing. More than half (59%) of the patients produced invalid test profiles. Being given feedback and a request for openness and honesty resulted in 90% of valid profiles in the repeat testing. On the second testing, there were significant differences on 6 of the 13 MMPI-2 scales, as well as on each of the separate measures of depression, anxiety, and anger. It appears to be important to include a psychometric measure that includes a validity scale in the evaluation process of professionals because the majority produced invalid MMPI-2 profiles. It is recommended that patients who are defensive in their testing be asked to repeat the test battery to gain a more accurate clinical picture of the individual professional.