L. Thomas Kucharski

Utility of the MMPI-2-RF (Restructured Form) Validity Scales in Detecting Malingering in a Criminal Forensic Setting: A Known-Groups Design

The current study examined the utility of the recently released Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) validity scales to detect feigned psychopathology in a criminal forensic setting. We used a known-groups design with the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS; Rogers, Bagby, & Dickens, 1992) as the external criterion to determine groups of probable malingering versus nonmalingering. A final sample of 125 criminal defendants, who were administered both the SIRS and the MMPI-2-RF during their evaluations, was examined. The results indicated that the two MMPI-2-RF validity scales specifically designed to detect overreported psychopathology, F-r and F(P)-r, best differentiated between the malingering and nonmalingering groups. These scales added incremental predictive utility to one another in this differentiation. Classification accuracy statistics substantiated the recommended cut scores in the MMPI-2-RF manual (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008) in this forensic setting. Implications for these results in terms of forensic assessment and detection of malingering are discussed.

Detection of Malingering of Psychiatric Disorder With the Personality Assessment Inventory: An Investigation of Criminal Defendants

Abstract To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991) Validity scales for the detection of malingered psychiatric disorders, we divided a sample of criminal defendants referred for forensic evaluation by the federal courts into malingering and not malingering groups based on their performance on the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (Rogers, Gillis, & Bagby, 1990). Logistic regression analyses (LGAs) revealed that there were no differences between the malingering and not malingering groups with respect to age, race, years of education, history of drug abuse, or number of previous felony convictions. LGA with malingering versus not malingering as the criterion revealed that the PAI Negative Impression Management (NIM) scale but not the Rogers Discriminant Function (RDF; Rogers, Sewell, Morey & Ustad, 1996) nor the Malingering index (MAL; Morey, 1996) significantly differentiated the malingering from the not malingering group. Receiver operating characteristics analyses demonstrated acceptable sensitivity and specificity for the NIM scale but not the RDF scale or the MAL index. We discuss the results in terms of the suggested cutoff scores for the PAI Validity scales in detecting criminal defendants who are attempting to feign psychiatric disorder.

The Utility of the HCR-20 and PCL:SV in the Prediction of Diversion Noncompliance and Reincarceration in Diversion Programs

Diversion programs were developed to decrease the number of incarcerated mentally ill individuals. The number of diversion programs and mental health courts is rapidly growing, and an increased number of diversion programs are willing to accept defendants charged with violent felonies, stressing the need for thorough risk assessments as part of diversion eligibility evaluations. This study was designed to examine the utility of the Historical–Clinical–Risk Management–20 (HCR-20) and Psychopathy Checklist Screening Version (PCL:SV) in predicting diversion noncompliance and reincarceration in a sample of 131 defendants participating in different diversion programs in New York. Results provided support for the use of the HCR-20 and PCL:SV in the context of diversion, although the HCR-20 proved to be superior to the PCL:SV in predicting diversion noncompliance and reincarceration.

Antisocial Personality Disorder and the Malingering of Psychiatric Disorder: A Study of Criminal Defendants

Criminal defendants with antisocial personality disorder (APD), those with a personality disorder other than APD (OPD) and those without a personality disorder (NoPD) were compared on validated measures of malingering. The APD group scored significantly higher on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory- 2(MMPI-2) F, Fp, and F-K scales and the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) Negative Impression Scale. A greater proportion of those in the APD group exceeded accepted cutoff scores on the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS) scale. While this finding supports the DSM-IV association between APD and malingering, the predictive utility of APD in discriminating malingerers from honest responders was poor, with many with APD not attempting to malinger and those without APD presenting potentially malingered profiles.

The Utility of the MMPI-2 Malingering Discriminant Function Index in the Detection of Malingering: A Study of Criminal Defendants.

This study examined the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2s (MMPI-2) malingering discriminant function index (M-DFI), recently developed by Bacchiochi and Bagby, in the detection of malingering in a forensic sample. Criminal defendants were divided into “malingering” and “not malingering” groups using the structured interview of reported symptoms (SIRS) criteria proposed by Rogers. Logistic regression analysis (LRA) revealed that the MMPI-2 infrequency (F) scale had the best predictive utility of the traditional infrequency scales. Although the M-DFI did significantly differentiate the malingering from the not malingering groups, it did not add significantly to the predictive utility of the MMPI-2 F scale. Receiver operating characteristics analyses demonstrated acceptable sensitivity and specificity for the MMPI-2 F scale, but poor sensitivity for the M-DFI scale. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of the M-DFI in detecting malingering and problems of extending the findings of simulation studies to the forensic context.

A Comparison of Simulation and Known Groups in the Detection of Malingering on the MMPI-2

Three groups of 30 inmates, one instructed to respond honestly, one to fake being mentally ill, and one to fake schizophrenia after being educated to its symptoms, were administered the MMPI-2. These simulation groups were compared to two forensic evaluation groups of 30 pretrial defendants, one believed to be mentally ill and one suspected of malingering based on their psychiatric history, in order to compare the results of simulation with those of the forensic context. The results demonstrated that those instructed to feign psychiatric disorder and those suspected of malingering in the forensic context scored significantly higher on all MMPI-2 validity indicators than did those with a history of psychiatric treatment and those instructed to respond honestly, yet did not differ from each other. These findings suggest that the results of simulation designs are comparable to those obtained from forensic subjects. The F(p) Scale failed to add incrementally to F in discriminating the two defendant groups.

The Utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory in the Assessment of Psychopathy

Abstract To assess the utility of the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI; Morey, 1991) in the assessment of psychopathy, 92 male criminal defendants were administered the Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R; Hare,1991) and the PAI. Included were only those defendants who produced valid PAI protocols. Those scoring at least 30 on the PCL-R scored significantly higher on the Antisocial Features subscales ANT-A (Antisocial Behaviors) and ANT-S (Stimulus Seeking) than either the Low (PCL-R; total less than 20) or Moderate (PCL-R; total = 20–29) psychopathy groups. No significant differences between psychopathy groups were observed for ANT-E (Egocentricity). Regression analyses with PCL-R total, factor 1 and factor 2 of the PCL-R as the criteria, and the Antisocial Features subscales as the predictors revealed that only ANT-A significantly correlated with PCL-R total score and ANT-A and ANT-S with Factor 2. None of the Antisocial features scales correlated significantly with PCL-R factor 1. The results demonstrate that the PAI is capable of assessing the behavioral but not the affective/interpersonal aspects of psychopathy.

The Utility of the MMPI-2 Criminal Offender Infrequency (Fc) Scale in the Detection of Malingering in Criminal Defendants

Recognizing that nonmalingering criminal subjects often elevate both the Infrequency (F) and Infrequency Psychopathology (Fp) scales of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), Megargee (2004) developed the Criminal Offender Infrequency (Fc) scale, which includes items infrequently endorsed by criminal offenders. This study compared MMPI-2 F, F(p), Fb and Fc elevations of criminal defendants who classified as malingering or not malingering using the Structured Interview of Reported Symptoms (SIRS). Results of Logistic Regression Analyses suggested that the Fc scale performed better than F(p) and Fb, and at least as good as F in the detection of malingering in this forensic sample. Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive and Negative Predictive Validity Values for F, Fp and Fc are provided.

Interpretation of Extreme MMPI-2 Protocols: Use of the MMPI-2 Infrequency Psychopathology (Fp) and the Infrequency Correctional (Fc) Scales in the Detection of Malingering

ABSTRACT Although there has been a great deal of research on the utility of the MMPI-2 in the detection of malingering, the findings to date present a confusing picture of just how the research should be applied to forensic practice. Research on the Infrequency Psychopathology (Fp) scale has been equivocal. We assessed the utility of the Fp, as an adjunct to the F scale as it was initially conceived and the newly developed Infrequency Correctional (Fc) scales in detecting malingering. Criminal defendants with F scale elevations of T > 95 were categorized into malingering and not malingering groups based on their performance on the SIRS. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that both the Fp and Fc scales significantly differentiated the malingering from not malingering groups with acceptable accuracy. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of these measures as adjuncts to the F scale in the detection of malingering.

Detecting Denial of Severe Psychiatric Disorder: An MMPI-2 Investigation of Criminal Defendants

The ability of the MMPI-2 validity scales to differentiate mentally ill defendants who denied being mentally ill from mentally ill defendants who acknowledged their illness and those without mental illness was investigated. A stepwise logistic regression analysis (LGA) was utilized to identify the most parsimonious set of predictors among the MMPI-2 validity measures. The F and K scales and the Es-K index significantly differentiated the denying mental illness group from those acknowledging their psychiatric difficulties with a high degree of accuracy. An ROC curve utilizing the prediction scores from the LGA yielded an area under the curve of .89. An attempt to validate the model by differentiating the denial participants from those with no mental illness resulted in a marked decline in classification accuracy. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of the MMPI-2 in the detection of under reporting of psychiatric difficulties.