Abstract
The efficacy of the F scale and F-K index in detecting faking of a mental illness was investigated for both the MMPI and MMPI-2. A total of 72 undergraduate students completed the MMPI and 74 completed the MMPI-2 after receiving instructions to feign severe mental illness. Student responses were analyzed against MMPI (n=180) and MMPI-2 (n=76) data obtained from psychiatric inpatients diagnosed with severe mental illnesses. Multiple regression analysis of the validity scales and F-K index indicate that the F scale is the best predictor of malingering both for the MMPI (r=64) and MMPI-2 (r=.74) and the two samples combined (r=.71). The Si and D scales accounted for statistically significant, yet small, amounts of incremental validity. The presence of a “sawtooth” pattern did not add any incremental validity. Though an F scale cut-off score of T>109 resulted in an 85.9% classification accuracy rate, it appears that categorizing scores into one of five ranges results in better classification accuracy than a single cut-off score.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aamodt, M. G. (1990).Using the MMPI to detect malingering and dissimulation in forensic settings. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Police and Criminal Psychology, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Berry, D. T. R., Baer, R. A., & Harris, M. J. (1991). Detection of malingering on the MMPI: A meta-analysis.Clinical Psychology Review 11, 585–598.
Graham, J. R., Watts, D., & Tirnbrook, R. E. (1991). Detecting fake-good and fake-bad MMPI-2 profiles.Journal of Personality Assessment, 57(2), 264–277.
Lees-Haley, P. R. (1992). Efficacy of MMPI-2 validity scales and MCMI-II modifier scales for detecting spurious PTSD claims: F, F-K, Fake Bad Scale, Ego Strength, Subtle-Obvious subscales, DIS, and DEB.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 48(5), 681–689.
Pelfrey, W.V., & Aamodt, M. G. (1996).Relationship between malingerers' intelligence and MMPI-2 knowledge and their ability to avoid detection as a malingerer. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Resnick, P. J. (1984). The detection of malingered illness.Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 2, 21–38.
Rogers, R., Bagby, R. M., & Chakraborty, D. (1993). Feigning schizophrenic disorders on the MMPI-2: Detection of coached simulators.Journal of Personality Assessment, 60(2), 215–226.
Wright, R. E. (1995). Logistic regression. In L. G. Grimm & P. R. Yarnold (Eds.),Reading and Understanding Multivariate Statistics (pp 217–244). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Aamodt, M.G., Dwight, S.A. & Surrette, M.A. Incremental validity of MMPI and MMPI-2 clinical scales in detecting malingering. J Police Crim Psych 12, 42–47 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02806701
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02806701