Use of the MMPI‐2 With Chicanos: Strategies for Counselors

Abstract

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2 (MMPI‐2) is frequently used by professional counselors to assess Chicano or Mexican American clients in various mental health settings. It is important to understand how ethnic and sociocultural variables (e.g., ethnic identity, acculturation, or racism) may influence the assessment process. This article presents strategies for the culturally competent use of the MMPI‐2 with this burgeoning Hispanic subpopulation.

Barriers to community mental health services for Latinos: Treatment considerations.

“…For the present time, clinicians should use multiple sources of information when treating cross-cultural clients in an effort to minimize errors in assessment (Goldstein, 1981). For example, in addition to using standardized assessment measures, therapists should obtain a comprehensive psychosocial history, a mental status examination, and any other relevant information, such as a family interview (Velasquez & Gonzales, 1997). By using multiple assessment methods, the likelihood of misunderstanding the client as a result of poor verbal abilities is lessened (Ibrahim & Arredondo, 1986).…”

Barriers to Community Mental Health Services for Latinos: Treatment Considerations

“…Treatment adherence may also be improved by providing Latinos with culturally sensitive treatment and by informing them of what to expect from therapy before they enter the therapeutic process (Organista, Munoz, & Gonzalez, 1994). Because the assessment process can be awkward for some Latinos, one way to better prepare Latinos for what to expect is to explain to them that the assessment procedures as well as receiving feedback about the results is an important and necessary component of the therapeutic process (Velasquez & Gonzales, 1997). Also, many Latino clients may expect therapy to only last one session or may believe that once a specific mental health concern is resolved therapy is no longer necessary despite the presence of other mental health concerns (Gonzalez, 1997).…”

Assessing bilingual and monolingual Latino students with translations of the MMPI-2: Initial data.

“…Also, investigations like this need to be conducted with community samples because these types of samples have been a part of the development of norms for the MMPI-2 in English. Velasquez et al (1997) provided an illustrative example of dilemmas related to the clinical assessment of Latinos by presenting the case of "Sandra," who obtained two different MMPI-2 profiles, which in turn suggested different psychiatric diagnoses and treatment options. When Sandra was administered the MMPI-2 in English, she produced a configuration with elevations (over 65T) on the Schizophrenia, Psychasthenia, and Paranoia scales (i.e., an 8-7-6 code type), which suggested a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., DSM-TV; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) diagnosis of schizophrenia, use of psychotropic medications, and possible hospitalization.…”