The detection of malingered posttraumatic stress disorder with MMPI-2 fake bad indices

Assessment. 2001 Jun;8(2):221-36. doi: 10.1177/107319110100800210.

Abstract

This investigation explored the effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) simulation on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) responses, to detect malingered from genuine PTSD. Sixty-four adult PTSD outpatients at a child sexual abuse (CSA) survivor treatment program were compared with 85 adult college students instructed and trained to malinger PTSD. MMPI-2 overreporting indices examined were F, F-Fb, F-K, F(p), Ds2, O-S, OT, and FBS. A stepwise discriminant analysis identified F(p), F-K, and O-S as the best malingering predictors. A predictive discriminant analysis yielded good hit rates for the model, with impressive cross-validation results. Cutoff scores were assessed for the model's predictors. Clinical implications for detecting malingered PTSD using the MMPI-2 are discussed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Discriminant Analysis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MMPI*
  • Male
  • Malingering / diagnosis*
  • Middle Aged
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / diagnosis*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires