MMPI F-K index among hospitalized Vietnam veterans.
The F-K index of the MMPI has been used as a marker of symptom overreporting. One population for which previous research has shown this pattern is Vietnam in-country veterans with PTSD. This study assessed the F-K index on 515 inpatients: 329 Vietnam in-country and 186 Vietnam-era patients. Normative data on psychiatric inpatients were presented. Also, a special MMPI subscale (MMPI-PTSD), a measure to identify PTSD among these veterans, was used. Results showed that all Vietnam veterans, especially in-country veterans, overreport symptoms to a high degree. The overall mean for in-country vets was 7.3. Also, when the special MMPI-PTSD subscale was used, a vast majority of in-country veterans who were in the PTSD range had high F-K index scores. Dissimulation as a symptom of PTSD was discussed.
Hyer
L
L
Psychology Service, VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30910.
Woods
M
M
Harrison
W R
WR
Boudewyns
P
P
O'Leary
W C
WC
D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011594:Psychometrics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014744:Vietnam