We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Mental

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory?

Mary McMahon
By
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 12,931
Share

The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) is used to assess a patient with a suspected or known psychological disorder to refine the diagnosis. Patients are asked a series of true/false questions which can be used to score them, looking for particular personality traits and indicators of clinical syndromes that can be used for diagnostic purposes. This test is designed to be used specifically with adults and while it was originally developed for use in mentally ill populations, it is also sometimes used as an assessment tool for a patient without a known psychological disorder. It can sometimes provide insights into personality traits that can help people in psychotherapy and other settings.

There are 175 questions on the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, which is designed to be completed in about half an hour. The test closely coordinates with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM), a widely-used psychiatric diagnostic tool in the United States; this text defines a wide range of mental health conditions and provides diagnostic criteria so care providers can determine if a patient fits into a particular category. With the assistance of the MCMI, a medical provider can identify personal disorders and some clinical syndromes like bipolar disorder and major depression.

This series of questions is based on the original developer’s work with personality traits, which included broadly dividing people into an assortment of general types. It is not, however, a personality test; the goal is to specifically identify mental health disorders and to determine if the patient has indicators that may fit in with the DSM. Using the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory inappropriately may result in abnormal results or confusion, as the test is designed for people with psychiatric disorders.

Like other assessment tools, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory can sometimes be challenging to administer because patients may answer the way they think the administrator wants them to, rather than honestly. While administering the test, the provider may watch the patient and take note of behavior that suggests the patient is manipulating answers or responding falsely. The sensitive questions may be explored later in another session to learn more about why the patient hesitated or lied.

In the course of a patient evaluation, a mental health professional may use a number of tools for assessment. A single instrument like the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory wouldn’t provide enough data to make a diagnosis or reach any conclusions about the patient. Testing combined with observation of the patient in clinical settings, interviews with friends and family, and a review of the patient’s history are all necessary to reach a mental health diagnosis. This process may take days or weeks, depending on the nature of the patient’s condition.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Mary McMahon
By Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a The Health Board researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Discussion Comments
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a...

Learn more
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-the-millon-clinical-multiaxial-inventory.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.