The detection of feigned uncoached and coached posttraumatic stress disorder with the MMPI-2 in a sample of workplace accident victims.

Abstract

In this study research participants completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) under standard instructions and then were asked to fake posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when completing the MMPI-2 for a 2nd time in 1 of 4 conditions with different instructions on how to fake PTSD: (a) uncoached, (b) coached about PTSD symptom information, (c) coached about MMPI-2 validity scales, or (d) coached about both symptoms and validity scales. These MMPI-2 protocols were then compared with protocols of claimants with workplace accident-related PTSD. Participants given information about the validity scales were the most successful in avoiding detection as faking. The family of F scales (i.e., F, FB, FP), particularly FP, produced consistently high rates of positive and negative predictive power.

The Detection of Feigned Psychiatric Disorders Using the MMPI-2-RF Overreporting Validity Scales: An Analog Investigation

“…However, sophisticated feigners of PTSD actually had higher scores than naïve simulators, indicating that experience with a disorder or mere memorization of its symptoms (e.g., Bury and Bagby 2002) are not helpful in avoiding detection by F P -r. It appears as if professional mental health knowledge, rather than personal knowledge or experience, contributes to an individual's success in feigning without being detected. Sophisticated simulators were also better able than naïve simulators to present disorder-specific symptoms on the MMPI-2-RF, as evidenced by their RC scale scores, which resembled those of the psychiatric patients.…”

“…The MMPI-2-RF consists of 338 true/false statements about personality and psychopathology. All MMPI-2-RF scale scores can be derived from an 1 This data was previously used in studies which investigated the utility of the validity scales on the MMPI-2 in detecting overreporting of specific disorders and examined the effects of mental health training on the utility of these scales (Bagby et al 1997a(Bagby et al , 2000Bury and Bagby 2002;Efendov et al 2008). The current study extended these investigations to the MMPI-2-RF validity scales, as well as introduced a focus on the effect of individual experience with a disorder (PTSD) on the utility of these scales.…”

Investigating the M‐FAST: psychometric properties and utility to detect diagnostic specific malingering

“…Bury & Bagby, 2002;Rogers, Bagby, & Chakraborty, 1993a;Walters & Clopton, 2000), PAI (e.g. Calhoun, Earnst, Tucker, Kirby, & Beckham, 2000;Rogers, Ornduff, & Sewell, 1993b;Rogers, Sewell, Morey, & Ustad, 1996), SIMS (Edens, Otto, & Dwyer, 1999) or psychopathology-specific measures such as Briere's (1995) Trauma Symptom Inventory (Edens, Otto, & Dwyer, 1998) and have yielded mixed results.…”

Frequency and Detection of Malingering in Homicide Defendants Undergoing Criminal Responsibility Evaluations Using the Schedule for Nonadaptive and Adaptive Personality

“…Research that leads to an increase in the armamentarium of malingering detection instruments available to forensic evaluators will ultimately strengthen the integrity of the forensic evaluation process. There is evidence that increased awareness about detection techniques can enhance malingering skills in evaluees (Bury & Bagby, 2002). Having more instruments in the field lessens the potential threat from coaching (by defense lawyers, legally savvy inmates, etc.…”