Has anyone taken a MMPI at the physiatrist office?

Question

I went to see a physiatrist for anxiety and depression. I was prescribed Lexapro, Klonopin and my doctor ordered me to take a MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). Has anyone ever taken one of these and been diagnosed with something other then what they originally went to the doctor for help with? Is this a way for doctors to start labeling me with more conditions then I went for help for? The test was full of weird questions and I don’t know what any of it is going to say about my personality or how they score it.

Answer 1

Yes I took the MMPI while in the prison psyche ward. What a joke. They ask you 45 times what color are your turds. I think whoever designed the test must of had some serious anal issues.  

Answer 2

I took the MMPI many years ago.  I didn't think it was still used because better diagnosing methods are available.  The thing that bothers me about your case is that your psychiatrist seems to have put you on medication before seemingly being able to diagnose your mental health.

Maybe you should think about seeing a different psychiatrist.  Second opinions are worth it.

Did your psychiatrist recommend any counseling?  If not, it sounds like he or she is trying to fix things with meds.  Brain chemistry is a big factor in any mental disorder and can be altered for the good with medication.  But counseling is necessary to undo any "wacky" thinking, like my counselor likes to call it, that could be aggrevating a situation.

Also, monitor your weight closely with Lexapro.  I was on it and ballooned by 80 pounds, most of it water weight.  It worked but there are better medications out there that don't have as severe side effects.

I am also on Klonopin at a small dosage.  .5mg 3x/day if needed.  Large doses are given to people who experience seizures.

Putting a plan together for me was a trial and error period.  It took the span of a couple of years.  But since a lot about psychiatry is based on observation with hard measurable diagnosing methods just coming into the picture, a person has to be patient and work with good, listening mental health professionals.

One last thing.  This works for me but I don't know if you are a religious person.  I am a Christian.  I have been all my life.  But sometimes I rollercoasted.  My counselor respects my beliefs and convictions and uses them as part of my therapy.  She stongly feels that there is a spiritual component to a lot of mental disorders.  It is really working for me.  Daily Bible readings, prayer, and reading devotional materials have really put me over the top and have complimented the meds and counseling.  After many years of suffering, I now have a new direction in my life.

Answer 3

It is just a diagnostic tool.  It can be very helpful, but many things can influence your answers-mood, state of mind, anxiety, depression-so if it is early in treatment for you, you could take the test at a later date and score differently.  It's like a vague map as far as I'm concerned.  It may point them in the right direction but it's not going to give them details that they can only know through getting to know you.  The problem is that many psychiatrists are more interested in throwing medication at a problem instead of learning their patients, and there are those out there that know they can make an even better living by keeping you pill f**ked all the time.  As with any group of people, there are good psychiatrists and bad ones, ones in it to really help and ones who are only concerned about making enough money to keep their condo in Fl.  My suggestion would be to work closely with a psychologist.  Although they may not be able to prescribe medication, they can help monitor your moods and emotions while you are adjusting to medication and work as an advocate on your behalf if the medication issues get out of control.  When a person is feeling weak and tired from dealing with problems-emotional or physical or both-we tend to wait until the problem is bad enough that we look at the first person we go to thinking they are going to help us-'finally some relief.'  Maybe they will and maybe they won't, but you have to keep in mind that you still have to trust yourself.  Trusting someone else to help doesn't mean blind obedience.  Give it a try with your psychiatrist, but dont ignore your own feelings.  Also, I don't know how long you are to be on the klonopin - be careful with that.  It can help in the middle of a crisis, but it can also be addictive even in small doses and TRUST ME...you don't want to deal with trying to taper off of it a year from now if you do become dependent.  It can be a horrible withdrawal process that can last for months.  Benzo's (valium, xanax, klonopin) are (in my opinion) overprescribed as far as length of time goes.  Check out some websites about proper use of them and most say for a couple of weeks.  Be informed and you can ask better questions and don't let a Dr. blow you off or intimidate you.  Good luck:)

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