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The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Forensic Applications and Considerations

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Abstract

This paper reviews the empirical literature on the use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (RF; Ben-Porath and Tellegen 2008; Tellegen and Ben-Porath, 2008) scales for the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and PTSD comorbidity and discusses the use of the instrument in forensic contexts. We focus on prior work that has examined the association between the RF scales and PTSD, PTSD comorbidity, and the utility of the RF validity scales for detecting feigned symptoms of PTSD. We conclude that though the MMPI-2 RF scales show expected patterns of association with PTSD, their most useful application in the forensic arena may be in the identification of comorbid personality-based psychopathology, and in detecting symptom overreporting. We recommend that the MMPI-2 RF be used in the context of a comprehensive assessment that includes an exhaustive record review, detailed history with an emphasis on past trauma, and structured diagnostic interviews.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA

    Erika J. Wolf & Mark W. Miller

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 150 South Huntington Ave. (116B-2), Boston, MA, 02130, USA

    Erika J. Wolf & Mark W. Miller

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  1. Erika J. Wolf
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  2. Mark W. Miller
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Correspondence to Erika J. Wolf.

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Funding for this work was provided a VA CSR&D Career Development Award and an award from the University of Minnesota Press-Test Division, both to Erika J. Wolf.

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Wolf, E.J., Miller, M.W. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Forensic Applications and Considerations. Psychol. Inj. and Law 7, 143–152 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-014-9193-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-014-9193-z

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