Using the MMPI-2 in Forensic Assessment

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is one of the most widely researched and used assessment tools in psychology. Forensic psychologists often rely on it to evaluate clients involved in civil and criminal cases. Because the test results can have a significant influence on court decisions, psychologists need to understand how to make full use of the MMPI-2 in forensic settings. Building on his popular series of MMPI-2 books, James Butcher and his co-authors present this guide that is based on decades of research and personal experience. Following a brief overview of the MMPI-2 and its various scales, the authors further explore its applications in various forensic settings, including personal injury and workers compensation claims, immigration relief and deportation cases, and criminal investigations. Clear, practical guidelines bolstered by illustrative case examples will help psychologists understand legal and cultural factors that may influence the assessment process; evaluate neurops

James N. Butcher , PhD, is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota, USA. He was awarded honorary doctorates for his international personality assessment research (Doctor Honoris Causa) from the Free University of Brussels, Belgium, in 1990 and from the University of Florence, Italy (Laurea ad Honorem in Psychology) in 2005. He received the Bruno Klopfer Award from the Society for Personality Assessment in 2004 for longstanding contributions to personality assessment. Giselle A. Hass is a forensic expert and consultant for local and national family and immigration Courts. She earned a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, USA and is licensed both in Virginia and Washington, D.C., USA. Dr. Hass is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center, USA, Center for Applied Legal Studies, USA; a Forensic Psychologist for the Assessment Center, Washington D.C., USA Department of Behavioral Health; and a Psychologist for The Ainsworth Attachment Clinic, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. Dr. Hass has co-authored articles and book chapters in assessment, immigration and culture, parenting and divorce issues. Roger L. Greene is a Distinguished Emeritus at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in Palo Alto University in Palo Alto CA, USA, where he worked for over 20 years. Dr. Greene has worked in a variety of clinical settings and with different types of patients in his clinical career. He has written a number of texts and articles on the use of the MMPI-2 both clinically and forensically. He recently received the Bruno Klopfer award from the Society for Personality Assessment for lifetime contributions to the field of assessment. Dr. Linda D. Nelson has a thriving private practice in Santa Monica, USA where she evaluates and treats patients with neurological and psychiatric problems. She is a Qualified Medical Evaluator for the State of California, USA, and is regularly called on to perform Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) on suspected head injury cases.